NEI collects human data through clinical studies and trials in both its intramural and extramural divisions. Human data are notable for their complexity and lack of interoperability. Yet these data are used for the treatment of the patient from whom they derive. It is important to recognize and characterize the different types of health and healthcare data in order to articulate coherent and complete research questions and to develop treatment methodologies for blinding eye diseases and visual impairment. This Office of Data Science and Health Informatics (ODSHI) coordinates existing activities within the NEI and across NIH and provide a nidus for new trans-agency programs in data collection, data sharing and data interoperability. ODSHI works to accelerate scientific discovery, foster collaborative research, and ultimately improve public health through the application of scientific data and knowledge management in the eye health sciences.