[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 30433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8172]



[[Page 30433]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


National Toxicology Program (NTP); NTP Workshop: Biomarkers for 
Toxicology Studies

AGENCY: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 
National Institutes of Health (NIH).

ACTION: Workshop announcement and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: For more than a quarter century, the NTP testing program has 
provided extensive and useful scientific information for predicting 
human health hazards and protecting public health. The NTP periodically 
conducts reviews of models used in its testing program to critically 
analyze their predictive power and determine whether study protocols 
should be altered. As part of this effort, the NTP is convening a 
workshop titled ``Biomarkers for Toxicology Studies.'' The meeting will 
be held on September 20-21, 2006, at the NIEHS in Research Triangle 
Park, NC.
    The workshop will include plenary sessions and three simultaneous 
breakout group sessions for in-depth discussion. The workshop's overall 
goal is to identify biomarkers for carbohydrate/lipid metabolism and 
lung and cardiac function and then evaluate their utility for inclusion 
in rodent toxicology studies to better characterize endpoints of 
environmentally induced diseases or biological processes related to 
disease etiology. This meeting is open to the public with time set 
aside for public comments during the plenary session on the first day. 
The public is invited to attend the breakout groups as observers.
    A copy of the agenda and any additional information about the 
workshop, including background materials, public comments, and invited 
participants, will be posted on the NTP Web site when available (see 
NTP Web site http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov select ``Calendar of Upcoming 
Events'').

DATES: The workshop will be held on September 20-21, 2006, and begin 
each day at 8:30 a.m. and end at approximately 5 p.m. on September 20 
and approximately 12:30 p.m. on September 21.
    Comments: Written comments should be received by September 6, 2006, 
to allow time for adequate review before the meeting. Individuals 
wishing to make oral public comments are asked to contact Ms. Denise 
Lasko (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below) by September 6, 2006, 
and if possible, to send a copy of the statement or talking points at 
that time.
    Registration: Individuals who plan to attend are encouraged to 
register online at the NTP Web site http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ select 
``Calendar of Upcoming Events'' as soon as possible because seating is 
limited.
    Persons needing special assistance, such as sign language 
interpretation or other reasonable accommodation in order to attend, 
should contact 919-541-2475 voice, 919-541-4644 TTY (text telephone), 
through the Federal TTY Relay System at 800-877-8339, or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Requests should be made at least 7 days in 
advance of the event.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in the Rodbell Auditorium, Rall 
Building at the NIEHS, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for public comment and any 
other correspondence should be submitted to Ms. Denise Lasko (NIEHS, 
P.O. Box 12233, MD A3-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; telephone: 
919-541-0530, fax: 919-541-0295; or e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The term biomarker is often used to refer to indicators of exposure 
and response in biological systems. Biomarker measurements can 
potentially be used as indicators of disease etiology or biological 
function; however, their utility is a function of how well the 
biomarker is understood. In addition, biomarkers measured in animal 
models should be applicable to humans.
    The plenary session on the first day will include overview talks. 
Each breakout group will address the identification of biomarkers for 
lung function, cardiac function, or carbohydrate/lipid metabolism and 
discuss their possible inclusion in rodent toxicology studies to better 
characterize endpoints of environmentally induced diseases or 
biological processes related to disease etiology. The breakout groups 
will present their findings during plenary on September 21 followed by 
a general, open discussion.

Request for Comments

    Each organization is allowed one speaker during the public comment 
period. At least 7 minutes will be allotted to each speaker and, if 
time permits, may be extended to 10 minutes. Registration for oral 
comments will also be available onsite, although time allowed for 
presentation by on-site registrants may be less than that for pre-
registered speakers and will be determined by the number of persons who 
register at the meeting.
    Written statements can supplement and may expand the oral 
presentation. If registering onsite and reading from written text, 
please bring 50 copies of the statement for distribution and to 
supplement the record. Written comments received in response to this 
notice will be posted on the meeting page for this event on the NTP Web 
site (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov select ``Calendar of Upcoming Events.'' 
Persons submitting written comments should include their name, 
affiliation, mailing address, phone, fax, e-mail, and sponsoring 
organization (if any) with the document.

    Dated: May 17, 2006.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
 [FR Doc. E6-8172 Filed 5-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P