[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 72 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19001-19002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7107]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); 
Request for Public Comments on the Review of the Centers for Children's 
Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Program

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and 
Human Services.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of an effort to evaluate the NIEHS research portfolio 
of investigator-initiated research on children's environmental health, 
the NIEHS convened an independent panel to review the Centers for 
Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Program 
(``Children's Centers'') in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA). The panel was convened as a working group to 
the NIEHS National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council 
(NAEHS). At this time, the NIEHS seeks public comment on the working 
group report for consideration by the NAEHS Council, the NIEHS, and 
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) in evaluating the best 
approaches for future funding of children's environmental health 
research. The report is available at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/conferences/od/cehr/report.htm.

DATES: Please submit comments on or before May 15, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Dr. Kristina Thayer

[[Page 19002]]

(NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD B2-08, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; 
telephone: 919-541-5021 or e-mail: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information

    Over the past 30 years, the NIEHS has invested millions of dollars 
in children's environmental health research. In order to maximize the 
effectiveness of current and future investments of human and financial 
resources, the Institute is conducting a review of the children's 
environmental health programs. For the past eight years, the Institute 
has partnered with the EPA to support thirteen research centers devoted 
to children's environmental health and disease prevention. The 
Children's Centers draws upon the resources of community partners and 
the expertise of top universities and medical centers to focus on the 
important role that environmental toxicants play in the development of 
asthma, autism, and other childhood illnesses. The Children's Centers 
are a prominent component of the research portfolio in children's 
environmental health at both the NIEHS and EPA. As such, the NIEHS and 
EPA believe it is necessary to evaluate the program's effectiveness as 
a mechanism to stimulate research in children's environmental health. 
In addition, it is important to determine whether other approaches 
should be considered to advance children's environmental health 
research and education. Supporting research that shows the greatest 
promise for rapidly identifying links between environmental exposures 
and childhood disorders and disease is a primary focus.

Request for Comment

    At this time, the NIEHS seeks public comment on the working group 
report. The comments will be distributed to ORD and the NAEHS Council 
prior to discussion of the working group report at a public meeting on 
May 30-31, 2007. Comments or additional information may be submitted at 
any time; however, to ensure adequate time for consideration prior to 
the May 30-31, 2007 meeting, comments should be submitted by May 15, 
2007. The NIEHS and the EPA will not respond to submitted comments; 
however, all comments will be considered by the NAEHS Council, NIEHS 
and the EPA in evaluating the best approaches for future funding of 
children's environmental health research. Persons submitting comments 
should include their name, affiliation (if relevant), and sponsoring 
organization (if any) with the submission. Written submissions will be 
made publicly available on the NIEHS Web site as they are received 
(http://www.niehs.nih.gov/conferences/od/cehr/report.htm).

    Dated: April 5, 2007.
Samuel H. Wilson,
Deputy Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
and National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. E7-7107 Filed 4-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P