[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67691-67692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30121]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service


National Toxicology Program: Announcement of a Public Meeting To 
Receive Comment on the NTP Vision and Input to a Roadmap for 
Implementation of the Vision

Summary

    The National Toxicology Program (NTP) announces a public meeting to 
provide all interested parties an opportunity to express their views 
about the NTP Vision, provide input to a roadmap for implementation of 
the NTP Vision and comment on the views expressed by others. The NTP 
Vision for the 21st Century is to move toxicology from a predominately 
observational science at the level of disease-specific models to a 
predominately predictive science focused upon a broad inclusion of 
target-specific, mechanism-based, biological observations. The stimulus 
for the NTP Vision is to develop a framework that will promote the 
further advancement of toxicology and refine its traditional role as a 
predominately observational science.
    The meeting will be held on January 29, 2004, at the Lister Hill 
Center Auditorium (Building 38A), National Library of Medicine, 
National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 
20892. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on January 29 and will conclude 
by 5 p.m. or sooner if the public comments and discussion end earlier. 
On-site registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. on January 29. Attendance 
at the meeting is limited only by the space available. Additional 
details about the meeting, including background information, agenda, 
written comments, registration and security information are provided 
below and are also available from the

[[Page 67692]]

NTP Web site (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov select NTP Vision Public 
Meeting under What's New?).

Background

    The National Toxicology Program (NTP) was established in 1978 to 
coordinate toxicological testing programs within the Department of 
Health and Human Services, develop and validate improved testing 
methods, develop approaches and generate data to strengthen scientific 
knowledge about potentially hazardous substances and communicate with 
stakeholders. In its 25 years of existence, NTP has become a world 
leader in providing scientific information that improves our nation's 
ability to evaluate potential human health effects from chemical and 
physical exposures. The NTP has maintained a number of complex, 
interrelated research and testing programs that provide unique and 
critical information needed by health regulatory and research agencies 
to protect public health.
    The last decade of the 20th century and the turn of the 21st 
century have produced dramatic technological advances in molecular 
biology and computer science. The NTP is ready to evaluate its key 
activities and, in a focused and concerted effort, determine how best 
to incorporate these new scientific technologies into its research and 
testing strategies and broaden scientific knowledge on the linkage 
between mechanism and disease. The NTP Vision is to move toxicology 
from a predominately observational science at the level of disease-
specific models to a predominately predictive science focused upon a 
broad inclusion of target-specific, mechanism-based, biological 
observations. Over the next year, the NTP intends to develop a roadmap 
for implementation of its vision that will strategically position the 
program at the forefront for providing scientific data and the 
interpretation of those data for public health decision-making. The NTP 
will seek input to this roadmap from numerous groups, including its 
federal partners, its advisory committees, and the public. Additional 
information about the NTP Vision is available on its Web site (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov select NTP Vision Public Meeting under What's 
New?).

Agenda

    A panel that includes NTP staff and representatives of the NTP 
Board of Scientific Counselors and the NTP Executive Committee will 
receive the public comments and participate in the discussion.

Tentative Agenda

NTP Vision Public Meeting

    Lister Hill Center Auditorium, National Library of Medicine, 
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
January 29, 2004
8:30 a.m. Registration.
9 a.m. Welcome and Introductions; Presentation of the NTP Vision; and 
Guidelines and procedures for oral comments and discussion.
10 a.m. Public comments (10 minutes per speaker, one speaker per 
organization).
5 p.m. Adjournment (The meeting may adjourn earlier if the public 
comments and discussion are finished.)

Public Comment Encouraged

    The NTP invites all interested parties to present oral comments to 
the panel at the meeting. For planning purposes, individuals/groups 
wishing to give oral comment are asked to register early and provide 
appropriate contact information (name; affiliation; mailing address; 
phone; fax; e-mail; and sponsoring organization, if any). One time slot 
for an oral presentation will be allotted per organization. Speakers 
that register early for this meeting will be assigned time on a first-
come, first-served basis. Registration to speak at this meeting will 
also be accepted on-site. It is anticipated that at least 10 minutes 
will be available for each presenter to address the panel. When oral 
comments are read from printed text, the NTP asks that the speaker 
provide 20 copies of the text at registration for distribution to the 
panel and to supplement the record of the meeting. Written statements 
can supplement or may expand on an oral presentation or can be 
submitted in lieu of an oral presentation.
    The NTP also invites the submission of written comment. Written 
comments should be sent to the address provided below and include 
contact information (name, affiliation, mailing address, phone, fax, e-
mail, and sponsoring organization, if any). Comments received by 
January 15, 2004, will be distributed to the panel, posted on the NTP 
Web site prior to the meeting, and made available at the public 
meeting.

Registration for Meeting

    This meeting is open to the public and all interested parties are 
invited to attend. Persons needing special assistance in order to 
attend are asked to contact Ms. Nan Cushing (contact information below) 
at least seven business days prior to the meeting. For planning 
purposes, persons are asked to register on-line or, if this is not 
possible, contact Ms. Nan Cushing (NTP Liaison and Scientific Review 
Office, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233 MD A3-01, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Room 
3123, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; phone: (919) 541-0530; FAX: 
(919) 541-0295; e-mail: [email protected]).
    Access to the electronic registration form is available from the 
NTP Web site (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov, select NTP Vision Public 
Meeting under ``What's New?''). Please complete the form and also 
indicate whether you want to request time for an oral presentation. On-
site registration will also be available and will begin the morning of 
January 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Access to the NIH Campus

    Any individual seeking access to the NIH campus to attend this 
meeting will need to be prepared to show two forms of identification--a 
government-issued photo ID (e.g., Federal employee badge, driver's 
license, passport or green card, etc.) along with another type of 
identification, and, if asked, to provide pertinent information about 
this meeting (e.g., a copy of the meeting announcement, title of the 
meeting, or meeting host). Additional information about access to the 
NIH campus and parking is available from the NTP Web site (http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov, select NTP Vision Public Meeting under ``What's 
New?'').

    Dated: November 20, 2003.
Kenneth Olden,
Director, NTP.
[FR Doc. 03-30121 Filed 12-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P