I am excited to share our Spotlight on 2021 annual report, highlighting some of the ODP’s accomplishments this past year. In addition to the progress made on the key projects featured in the report, which I hope you will take the time to explore, 2021 was a special year for the ODP because it marked the 35th anniversary of our Office. I would like to recognize all the work that has been done to increase the scope, quality, dissemination, and impact of prevention research at the NIH since our Office’s founding in 1986. Our 35th anniversary infographic shares some of the major milestones that have brought us to this point.

Focusing now on the last 12 months, the ODP has:

• Evaluated the NIH prevention research portfolio and identified opportunities to advance health equity.
• Made it easier for investigators to find prevention-related funding opportunities from across the NIH.
• Expanded and improved research methods resources to help investigators design and implement more rigorous clinical trials.
• Supported the development of a taxonomy to better describe evidence gaps in clinical prevention.
• Examined associations between respiratory disease and nicotine and tobacco use.

We are looking forward to building on this progress to move prevention research forward in the new year. Notably, the ODP is elevating its commitment to achieving health equity in disease prevention. In response to our portfolio analysis that found a significant gap in prevention research that can reduce health disparities by addressing the leading risk factors for death and disability, we are launching a long-term, NIH-wide effort called ADVANCE: Advancing Prevention Research for Health Equity. Through ADVANCE, the ODP will work with Institutes and Centers from across the NIH to develop new prevention initiatives and to support research that tests strategies to deliver evidence-based interventions and preventive services in populations that experience health disparities.

I hope our Spotlight on 2021 gives you a better understanding of our work and the ways that we collaborate with NIH colleagues and other partners to strengthen disease prevention and health promotion. To stay up-to-date with ODP news and events, please follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our email updates.