[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59169-59170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25026]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


The National Institutes of Health FY 2016-2020 Strategic Plan To 
Advance Research on the Health and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender 
Minorities (SGM) Request for Comments

SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is developing a 
strategic plan to guide the agency's efforts and priorities in SGM 
research over the next five years (2016-2020). The purpose of this 
notice is to seek input from researchers in academia and industry, 
health care professionals, patient advocates and health advocacy 
organizations, scientific or professional organizations, public 
agencies, and other interested members of the public about proposed 
goals and objectives for advancing research and other research-related 
activities with SGM populations. Specific organizations, such as 
advocacy or professional groups are encouraged to submit a single 
response that reflects the views of their organization and membership 
as a whole.

DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments, responses must be 
received by November 2, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Responses to this notice must be submitted electronically by 
email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Karen Parker, Division of Program 
Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the 
Director, NIH, Building 1, Room 257, 1 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 
20892, Telephone: 301-451-2055, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The NIH developed this Strategic Plan to Advance Research on the 
Health and Wellbeing of Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM) (http://edi.nih.gov/sgm/research/sgm-strategic-plan.pdf) after substantive 
analysis and integration of portfolio analyses, community input, inter- 
and intra-agency collaborations, and recommendations from the NIH-
commissioned Institute of Medicine report, The Health of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People: Building a Foundation for 
Better Understanding, released in 2011.
    The NIH SGM Strategic Research Plan promotes and supports the 
advancement of basic, clinical, and behavioral and social sciences 
research to improve the health of people whose sexual orientations, 
gender identities/expressions, and/or reproductive development vary 
from traditional, societal, cultural, or physiological norms. In each 
of these areas, the NIH will coordinate with the NIH intramural and 
extramural program directors and researchers to ensure the advancement 
of SGM-focused research efforts.
    The NIH anticipates that this 5 year plan, which will cover the 
years 2016-2020, will provide the NIH with a framework for progress in 
this area, and that the research that results from this plan will lay a 
foundation for improved health and well-being amongst a group of 
diverse SGM individuals whose health needs have not traditionally 
received strong attention from the research community.

Information Requested

    This notice invites public comment and input on the proposed goals 
and objectives of the strategic plan. We ask that you consider cross-
cutting research opportunities, and/or needs that could have the 
greatest benefit for advancing SGM health.
    To inform implementation of the SGM strategic plan, input is being 
sought on each of the areas identified below.
    (1) Specific priority areas of research in SGM populations.
    (2) Goals and objectives outlined in the plan.
    (3) Any additional comments or information you think would be 
useful to the NIH about the proposed 2016-2020 Strategic Plan to 
Advance Research on the Health and Well-being of Sexual and Gender 
Minorities.
    To ensure consideration of your comments, responses must be 
received by November 2, 2015.

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

[[Page 59170]]

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 (e.g., 
research support, patient care, etc.) and whether you are responding on 
behalf of your organization (if yes, 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 2016-2020 National Institutes of Health Sexual and Gender 
Minority Strategic Plan. The information you provide may be disclosed 
to the NIH senior staff and those serving on the SGM Research 
Coordinating 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 
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 30 l 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: September 24, 2015.
Lawrence A. Tabak,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-25026 Filed 9-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P