[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 26646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10726]



[[Page 26646]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Office of Health Assessment and Translation Evaluation of the 
State of the Science for Transgenerational Inheritance of Health 
Effects; Request for Information

SUMMARY: The Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) of the 
Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute 
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is initiating one or more 
systematic reviews to examine the state of the science for 
transgenerational inheritance of health effects. The specific scope of 
the evaluation will be determined following a phase of exploratory 
screening of the literature and consideration of responses to this 
request for information (RFI). OHAT requests information on the 
proposed approach for conducting the exploratory screening of the 
literature and the identification of scientists with knowledge or 
expertise relevant to this topic.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of information is June 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Information should be submitted at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38656.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie R. Walker, Health Scientist, 
OHAT, DNTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-04, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27709; telephone (919) 541-4514; FAX: (301) 480-3337; 
[email protected]. Courier Address: NIEHS, Room 2163, 530 Davis 
Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: There is a large body of evidence indicating that early 
life exposures can lead to disease outcomes later in life. The effects 
of these exposures are thought to be limited to the exposed generation, 
such that subsequent generations are unaffected by the exposure history 
of their parents and grandparents. However, recent reports have 
suggested that this may not be the case, and that adverse outcomes may 
be carried over to multiple unexposed generations. This phenomenon is 
known as ``transgenerational inheritance.'' If the effects of exposure 
can indeed be transmitted to subsequent generations, this would have 
major public health implications. It is critical to determine how 
widespread and robust this phenomenon is, the factors that influence 
it, the mechanism by which it occurs, and the range of possible 
phenotypic outcomes (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-12-006.html). To assist with this effort, OHAT is initiating one 
or more evaluations using systematic review methodology to examine the 
state of the science for transgenerational inheritance of health 
effects associated with exposure to a wide range of stressors (e.g., 
environmental chemicals, drugs of abuse, nutrition and diet, 
pharmaceuticals, infectious agents, or stress).
    The specific scope of the evaluation will be determined following a 
phase of exploratory screening of the literature and consideration of 
responses to this RFI.
    Request for Information: A document outlining the proposed approach 
to conduct the exploratory screening is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38656. OHAT requests information on the proposed 
approach for conducting the exploratory screening of the literature and 
the identification of scientists with knowledge or expertise relevant 
to this topic. Specifically, this information will help to (1) refine 
the proposed literature search strategy and criteria used to conduct 
the exploratory screening; (2) identify potential areas of focus for 
the systematic review(s); (3) identify unpublished, ongoing, or planned 
studies related to transgenerational inheritance; and (4) identify 
scientists with expertise or knowledge relative to this topic.
    Responses are requested from all interested parties, such as the 
research community, health professionals, educators, policy makers, 
industry, and the public. Responses to this RFI are voluntary. OHAT 
does not intend to publish a summary of responses received or any other 
information provided, except very broad characterizations. Despite 
this, proprietary, classified, or confidential information should not 
be included in the response. This RFI is for planning purposes only and 
is not a solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of 
the U.S. Government to provide support for any ideas identified in 
response to it. Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for 
the preparation of any information submitted or for its use of that 
information. The U.S. Government is under no obligation to acknowledge 
receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents 
with respect to any information submitted.
    Future updates on this project, will be posted at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38159. Individuals interested in receiving updates 
on this and other NTP projects are encouraged to register to the NTP 
Listserv (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/getnews).
    Background Information on the NTP and OHAT: The NTP is an 
interagency program, established in 1978 (43 FR 53060) and 
headquartered at the NIEHS, whose mission is to evaluate agents of 
public health concern by developing and applying tools of modern 
toxicology and molecular biology. The NTP carries out literature 
analysis activities in OHAT and the Office of the Reports on 
Carcinogens within the DNTP. The NTP also designs and conducts 
laboratory studies and testing programs and analyzes its findings to 
assess potential hazards to human health from exposure to environmental 
substances (see http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/).
    OHAT was established to serve as an environmental health resource 
to the public and to regulatory and health agencies. This office 
conducts evaluations to assess the evidence that environmental 
chemicals, physical substances, or mixtures (collectively referred to 
as ``substances'') cause adverse health effects and provides opinions 
on whether these substances may be of concern given what is known about 
current human exposure levels. OHAT also organizes workshops or state-
of-the-science evaluations to address issues of importance in 
environmental health sciences. OHAT assessments are published as NTP 
Monographs. Information about OHAT is found at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/ohat.

    Dated: April 26, 2013.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-10726 Filed 5-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P