[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46696-46697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22237]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Cancer Institute; Call for Nominations for the National 
Cancer Institute Director's Consumer Liaison Group

    The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Federal Government's 
primary agency for cancer research, is now accepting nominations for 
five members of the National Cancer Institute Director's Consumer 
Liaison Group (DCLG) who will be appointed in July, 2000. The DCLG is a 
chartered Federal advisory committee of the NCI. It consists of 15 
consumer advocates who are involved in cancer advocacy and who reflect 
the diversity among those whose lives are affected by cancer. DCLG 
members are appointed for three-year terms.
    NCI brings together these advocates from many communities to advise 
and make recommendations to the Director, NCI, from the consumer 
advocate perspective on a wide variety of issues, programs and research 
priorities. The DCLG serves as a channel for consumer advocates to 
voice their views and concerns. Specifically the DCLG members:
     Help develop and establish processes, mechanisms, and 
criteria for identifying appropriate consumer advocates to serve on a 
variety of program and policy advisory committees responsible for 
advancing the mission of the NCI.
     Serve as a primary forum for discussing issues and 
concerns and exchanging viewpoints that are important to the broad 
development of the NCI programmatic and research priorities.
     Establish and maintain strong collaborations between the 
NCI and the

[[Page 46697]]

cancer advocacy community to reach common goals.

Eligibility Requirements for Individual Members

    To serve on the DCLG, a member must meet the following minimum 
eligibility requirements:
     Be involved in the cancer experience as a cancer survivor, 
a person affected by the suffering and consequences of cancer, or a 
professional or volunteer who works with survivors or those affected.
     Represent a constituency (formally or informally) with 
whom she or he communicates regularly on cancer issues and be able to 
serve as a conduit for information both to and from his/her 
constituency.
    DCLG members must be committed to participating in all activities 
of the DCLG which includes at least two meetings a year in Bethesda.

Criteria for Evaluating Individual Candidates

    Nominees who meet the minimum eligibility requirements will be 
further assessed based on the following criteria:
     Cancer advocacy experience.
     Ability to communicate effectively.
     Ability to represent broad issues, think ``globally''.
     Ability to contribute to an effective group process.
     Leadership ability.

Characteristics of the DCLG

    In addition to the criteria for individual candidates, the 
following characteristics of the DCLG as a group are intended to ensure 
that it reflects the breadth and diversity of the consumer advocacy 
community:
     Multicultural diversity.
     A broad mix of cancer sites.
     Representation of the medically underserved.
     Men and women.
     A range of organizations (local/regional and national).
     Age diversity.
     Geographic diversity (rural/urban mix).

Selection Process

    A call for nominations is disseminated annually to a broad range of 
groups, including local, regional and national organizations, to 
encourage nominations of candidates reflecting the diversity sought for 
the DCLG. All nominees are screened for eligibility, then evaluated 
according to the criteria. A list of highly qualified candidates who 
reflect balance and diversity of representation is forwarded to the 
Director, NCI, who selects the DCLG members. The original members of 
the DCLG endorsed this process, which will be used to select future 
members.
    Nominations may come from members of organizations, or individuals, 
including self-nominations. The nominations must be postmarked no later 
than November 1, 1999. To request a nomination package send your name, 
advocacy organization affiliation (if any), and address to the Office 
of Liaison Activities, NCI, Building 31; Room 10A06, 31 Center Drive, 
MSC 2580, Bethesda, MD 20892-2580. You may also request a package via 
fax to 301 480-7558 or e-mail to [email protected]

    Dated: August 19, 1999.
LaVerne Stringfield,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy, National 
Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 99-22237 Filed 8-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M