[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4503-4504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1987]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Center for Research Resources 2004 Strategic Plan

AGENCY: National Center for Research Resources, NIH, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), is updating its 1998-2003 strategic plan 
entitled NCRR: A Catalyst for Discovery. Its purpose is to anticipate, 
meet, and set priorities for the biomedical research community's needs 
for critical research resources and technologies. The NCRR requests 
input from biomedical scientists to identify barriers to future 
research progress and to define future

[[Page 4504]]

needs for shared research resources and technologies that facilitate 
NIH-supported biomedical research. The NCRR's existing 1998-2003 
strategic plan may be accessed over the World Wide Web: http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/about_ncrr/plan98.asp.

DATES: Submit responses to the Office of Science Policy and Public 
Liaison, NCRR (see below), on or before May 15, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Science Policy and 
Public Liaison, NCRR/NIH/DHHS, One Rockledge Centre, 6705 Rockledge 
Drive MSC 7965, Suite 5046, Bethesda, MD 20892-7965, telephone 301-435-
0866, FAX 301-480-3654, e-mail [email protected], Internet http://www.ncrr.nih.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Center for Research Resources 
(NCRR) serves as a ``catalyst for discovery'' by creating and providing 
critical research technologies and shared resources. This 
infrastructure underpins biomedical research and enables advances that 
improve the health of our Nation's citizens.
    The NCRR serves a unique purpose at the NIH: to develop critical 
research technologies and to provide cost-effective, shared, 
multidisciplinary resources to biomedical investigators across the 
spectrum of research activities supported by the NIH. The NCRR's 
mission is to:
    (1) Create resources and develop technologies and research models 
that are cost-effective, accessible, and responsive to the research 
needs of the biomedical research community. To meet these needs the 
NCRR must anticipate evolving trends in basic and clinical research to 
ensure that resources will be available to facilitate that research.
    (2) Provide shared clinical, primate, and biomedical technology 
resources and instrumentation for use by investigators supported by 
NIH. These resources, primarily centers, serve more than 10,000 
researchers, who are supported through more than $1 billion of 
competitive awards from NIH's categorical Institutes.
    (3) Develop quick, flexible approaches to new and emerging 
biomedical research needs and opportunities. These innovations often 
involve high-risk research.
    (4) Strengthen the Nation's biomedical research infrastructure by 
supporting institutional development programs that develop and enhance 
the capacity of institutions, including underrepresented groups, to 
participate in biomedical research; increasing the exposure of K-12 
students, their teachers, and the public to the life sciences; and 
constructing or renovating biomedical research facilities.
    Biomedical research investigators supported by the NIH require a 
broad array of technologies, tools, and materials for their research. 
The NCRR plays a key role in addressing trans-NIH research issues, such 
as access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and technologies; 
containment of the escalating costs of highly sophisticated research; 
development of appropriate, specialized research models; efforts to 
remedy the shortage of clinical and minority investigators; and efforts 
to improve the research infrastructure.
    To ensure the continued relevance of its Strategic Plan, the NCRR 
seeks input to the following questions in terms of the issues described 
above:
    (A) What are the most important research trend(s) that will drive 
biomedical research?
    (B) What research resources and technologies will be critical in 
addressing these trend(s) and meeting biomedical investigators' needs?
    (C) What strategies will eliminate barriers to progress and enhance 
access to research resources and technologies?
    (D) Who would you recommend to serve as a panel member for NCRR's 
strategic planning process? Please list the name, degree, position 
title, department, institution name and address, phone and fax numbers, 
e-mail address, and specific area of expertise for each person 
recommended.
    For your convenience we have provided a user-friendly response form 
at the NCRR's Strategic Planning Web site: http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/sprecommend.asp. If you do not have access, please send your responses 
to the above address.


    Dated: January 22, 2003.
Elias A. Zerhouni,
Director, NIH.
[FR Doc. 03-1987 Filed 1-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P