[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13133]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC-467]

 

Cooperative Agreement With the International Centre for Birth 
Defects, Rome, Italy

Summary

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a cooperative agreement 
with the International Centre for Birth Defects to further develop and 
establish: (1) An international epidemiologic research program, (2) an 
international surveillance and monitoring system, and (3) a setting for 
training epidemiologists in the prevention of birth defects. The 
International Centre for Birth Defects (the Centre) was previously 
funded by the CDC in 1991. This is a competitive renewal of the 
program. Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 1994 to support this 
project. It is expected the award will begin on or about September 30, 
1994, for a 12-month budget period within a 3-year project period. 
Continuation awards within the project period are made on the basis of 
satisfactory progress and availability of funds.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist and 
collaborate with the Centre in establishing and strengthening 
epidemiologic research, surveillance and monitoring, and training, in 
order to promote the further understanding of the prevention of birth 
defects. CDC will provide guidance on program management and 
administrative matters related to the conduct of the scientific 
aspects; provide technical and scientific consultation and assistance 
for the implementation of all epidemiologic and surveillance activities 
conducted; provide scientific consultation and assistance in 
formulating the research plan; provide guidance on program management 
and administrative matters related to conduct of the scientific 
aspects; and collaborate in the definition and preparation of the 
scientific epidemiologic reports that result from the cooperative 
agreement.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 
2000,'' a PHS-led national activity for reducing morbidity and 
mortality and improving the quality of life. This announcement is 
related to the priority areas of Environmental Health, Maternal and 
Infant Health, and Surveillance and Data Systems. (For ordering a copy 
of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the section ``Where To Obtain 
Additional Information''.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under section 301 (42 U.S.C. 241) and 
307(a) (42 U.S.C. 242(l)) of the Public Health Service Act, sections 
1-6 of the International Health Research Act of 1960 (22 U.S.C. 
2101-2104) and section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2151b).

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all 
tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission of promoting 
the protection and advancement of an individual's physical and mental 
health.

Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the International Centre for 
Birth Defects, Rome, Italy, for this project. No other applications are 
solicited. The Program Announcement and application kit have been sent 
to the International Centre for Birth Defects.
    The International Centre for Birth Defects is the only appropriate 
and qualified institution to provide the services specified under this 
cooperative agreement for the following reasons:
    1. Serving as the Clearinghouse headquarters, the Centre is the 
only organization with access to all the data from the 26 member 
programs. No one in the United States or its territories has access to 
this data.
    2. The Centre is devoted to the prevention of birth defects through 
surveillance, training, and epidemiologic research. It is located in 
Rome, Italy, and was established in 1988 on the initiative of the 
International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Programs 
(Clearinghouse). It serves as a headquarters for the Clearinghouse.
    3. The International Clearinghouse itself was founded in 1974 with 
CDC as a charter member. The Clearinghouse's Annual Report provides 
additional information on the Clearinghouse and each of its program 
members. It is now comprised of 26 member programs from 20 nations and 
is affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a nonprofit, 
non-Governmental Organization. The primary purpose of the Clearinghouse 
is to provide a forum for member programs to share information. This 
sharing is done through regular quarterly reports of data, at annual 
meetings, and through informal contacts of the staff of member 
programs. There is no similar organization in the United States.
    4. The Clearinghouse programs have participated in many important 
international collaborative projects related to birth defects. Notable 
among them was one that led to the discovery that the anti-epileptic 
drug valproic acid (Depakene) causes spina bifida.
    5. The Centre shows promise of providing unique contributions to 
the understanding and prevention of birth defects. The results of 
international collaborative scientific work will not only help the 
Centre and its member countries formulate strategies for the prevention 
of birth defects through training, surveillance, and epidemiologic 
research, but the scientific knowledge gained will provide reciprocal 
and direct benefits to the United States, yielding important data to 
strengthen the scientific basis in the United States' quest for the 
prevention of genetic diseases and birth defects.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    The application is not subject to review under Executive Order 
12372.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this 
program is 93.283.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    If you are interested in obtaining additional information regarding 
this project, please refer to Announcement 467 and contact Lisa G. 
Tamaroff, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 842-6796, for business 
management technical assistance.
    A copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' (Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000'' (Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00473-1) referenced in the ``Summary'' may be obtained through the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 
20402-9325, telephone (202) 783-3238.

    Dated: May 23, 1994.
Ladene H. Newton,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 94-13133 Filed 5-27-94; 8:45 am]
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