[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45934-45935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18214]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 
(NIDCR) Strategic Plan Request for Comments

SUMMARY: NIDCR is developing a new strategic plan to guide the 
Institute's research efforts and priorities over the next six years 
(2014-2019). The purpose of this time-sensitive Request for Information 
(RFI) is to seek input from a broad range of stakeholders about 
prospective activities, areas of research emphasis, future research 
approaches, needs, and opportunities.

DATES: To ensure consideration, your responses must be received by 
Friday, September 6, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Responses to this Notice must be submitted electronically 
using either the web-based format at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/NewsAndFeatures/Announcements/GiveUsYourIdeasforNIDCRsNextStrategicPlan 
or email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Margo Adesanya, Acting Director, 
Office of Science Policy and Analysis, National Institute of Dental and 
Craniofacial Research, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 5B/55, MSC 
2190, Bethesda, MD 20892, Telephone: 301-594-8774, Fax: 301-496-9988, 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NIDCR, the lead Federal agency for research and research training 
on oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders, has a 
distinguished record of supporting research to advance the oral health 
of the nation for 65 years. The mission of the NIDCR is to improve 
oral, dental and craniofacial health through research, research 
training, and the dissemination of health information. We accomplish 
our mission by performing and supporting basic and clinical research; 
conducting and funding research training and career development 
programs to ensure an adequate number of talented, well-prepared and 
diverse investigators; coordinating and assisting relevant research and 
research-related activities among all sectors of the research 
community; and promoting the timely transfer of knowledge gained from 
research and its implications for health to the public, health 
professionals, researchers, and policy-makers.

Information Requested

    This notice invites public comment and input on the development of 
the next strategic plan. We ask that you consider cross-cutting 
research opportunities, and/or needs that could have the greatest 
benefit for advancing oral health.
    To inform development of the strategic plan, input is being sought 
on each of the areas identified below.
    (1) ``Transformative'' areas of research where new discoveries 
could have the greatest benefit for advancing dental, oral, and 
craniofacial research.
    (2) New technical capabilities or tools that can have a significant 
impact on dental, oral, and craniofacial research and clinical practice 
in the next fifteen years.
    (3) Scientific advances that could result in a quantum leap in the 
care of dental, oral, and craniofacial disorders.
    (4) Major challenges and opportunities for revolutionizing how we 
understand, prevent, diagnose and manage dental, oral, and craniofacial 
diseases and disorders.
    (5) NIDCR's role and potential for expanding and enhancing the 
pipeline for new dental, oral, and craniofacial researchers.
    (6) Potential areas for Public-Private Partnerships--partnerships 
that will allow NIDCR to work collaboratively with both public and 
private entities to advance research and improve the public health.
    (7) Any additional comments or information you think would be 
useful to NIDCR in developing its 2014-2019 Strategic Plan.

General Information

    All of the following fields in the response are optional and 
voluntary. Any personal identifiers will be removed when responses are 
compiled. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive 
information should not be included in your response. This notice is for 
planning purposes only and is not a solicitation for applications or an 
obligation on the part of the United States (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 
comment submitted or for its use of that comment.
    Please indicate if you are one of the following: grantee, 
administrator, student, patient advocate, Dean/or Institutional 
administrator, NIH employee, or other. If you are an investigator, 
please indicate your career level and main area of research interest, 
including whether the focus is clinical or basic. If you are a member 
of a particular advocacy or professional organization, please indicate 
the name and primary focus of the organization (i.e., research support, 
patient care, etc.) and whether you are responding on behalf of your 
organization (if not, please indicate your position within the 
organization).
    Please provide your name and email address.
    Privacy Act Notification Statement: We are requesting your comments 
for the 2014-2019 National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial 
Research (NIDCR) Strategic Plan. The information you provide may be 
disclosed to NIDCR senior staff serving on the strategic plan steering 
committee and to contractors working on our behalf. Submission of this 
information is voluntary. However, the information you provide will 
help to categorize responses by scientific area of

[[Page 45935]]

expertise, organizational entity or professional affiliation.
    Collection of this information is authorized under 42 U.S.C. 203, 
24 1, 2891-1 and 44 U.S.C. 310 I and Section 301 and 493 of the Public 
Health Service Act regarding the establishment of the National 
Institutes of Health, its general authority to conduct and fund 
research and to provide training assistance, and its general authority 
to maintain records in connection with these and its other functions.

    Dated: July 18, 2013.
Martha J. Somerman,
Director, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2013-18214 Filed 7-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P