[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6026-6027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02120]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Strategic 
Visioning: Draft Strategic Research Priorities; Request for Comments

SUMMARY: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is 
soliciting comments from the public on its Draft Strategic Research 
Priorities, which will help inform Institute-solicited research 
activities over the next decade. The draft document is available 
through the NHLBI Strategic Visioning Web site (https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/documents/strategic-visioning/public-comment-period).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received by 
March 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The Draft Strategic Research Priorities can be viewed here: 
(https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/documents/strategic-visioning/public-comment-period). Please email comments to [email protected]. 
Email comments are preferred, but comments may also be submitted by 
regular mail to: NHLBI Office of the Director, Attn: Strategic 
Visioning Team, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Building 31, 
Room 5A48, 31 Center Drive MSC 2486, Bethesda, MD 20892.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Camak, Executive Assistant, 
Office of Science Policy, Engagement, Education, and Communications at 
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, 31 Center Dr., 
Building 31, Room 4A10, Bethesda, MD 20892-2480. Telephone: 301-496-
4236. Email: [email protected]. Additional information may be 
obtained at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/documents/strategic-visioning/public-comment-period.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    For more than 60 years, the NHLBI has supported research to reduce 
the burden of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders and diseases. For 
example, long-term research investments in cardiovascular basic, 
clinical and population sciences have contributed to a 78% decrease in 
death rates due to coronary heart disease, a greater understanding of 
the complexity of chronic lung disease, and to an increase in life 
expectancy for persons with sickle cell disease from 14 years to 40-60 
years. However, heart, lung, and blood diseases remain leading causes 
of death for American men and women, and we face ongoing health 
challenges such as an aging population, rising health care costs, and 
continued gender and racial disparities.
    Over the last year, NHLBI has been engaged in a Strategic Visioning 
process that engages the NHLBI community to inform Institute-solicited 
research activities. The goals for the Strategic Visioning process span 
the NHLBI mission and include research on health and disease in heart, 
lung, blood, and sleep systems; the translation of research for 
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases; and the support of 
training and resources for biomedical researchers across the landscape.
    The strength of the NHLBI's Strategic Visioning process rests in 
the collective input of the diverse perspectives within the heart, 
lung, blood, and sleep community, including, but not limited to, 
scientists, academic institutions, patient communities, and the general 
public, allowing these stakeholders the opportunity to identify and 
catalyze areas where targeted investments are needed. In spring of 
2015, the community identified scientific opportunities (Compelling 
Questions, or CQs) and barriers to research progress (Critical 
Challenges, or CCs) facing heart, lung, blood, and sleep research. 
NHLBI leadership, staff, and advisory groups reviewed the ideas to 
identify the highest priorities for the Institute based on timeliness, 
feasibility, and overall ability to advance the fields of study.
    Ultimately, more than 1,000 ideas were submitted to the Strategic 
Visioning Forum. Ideas came from all 50 states and from countries 
across the globe, representing diverse perspectives of scientists, 
academic institutions, patient communities, and the general public.
    Together the NHLBI, its Board of Extramural Experts, and the NHLBI 
Advisory Council, refined and synthesized the CQs and CCs as 
appropriate, and organized them under Objectives. The resulting CQs and 
CCs, as delineated in the Draft Strategic Research Priorities document, 
address important research avenues and support the Institute's 
strategic goals. The Draft Strategic Research Priorities document is 
not meant to encompass NHLBI's entire research portfolio, but instead 
is meant to reflect those areas of study that are currently deemed to 
be the most important, timely, and feasible for the Institute to 
address in its targeted/solicited research portfolio in the next 
decade.

Request for Comments

    This notice invites public comment on NHLBI's Draft Strategic 
Research Priorities. We seek diverse perspectives including, but not 
limited to, that of patients, patient advocates, clinicians, and 
researchers, as well as federal agencies and for-profit and not-for-
profit stakeholders. The comments will be important factors in 
finalizing the document and thereby shaping NHLBI's Institute-solicited 
future research directions.
    Privacy Act Notification Statement: Responses to this notice are 
voluntary. Respondents are advised that the

[[Page 6027]]

Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the 
information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to 
any information submitted. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or 
sensitive information should be included in your response. The NHLBI 
may use the information gathered to develop grant, contract, or other 
funding priorities and initiatives.
    This notice is for information and planning purposes only and 
should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the 
part of the Federal Government in general, the NIH, or the NHLBI 
specifically. The NHLBI does not intend to make any awards based on 
responses to this RFI or pay for the preparation of any information 
submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

    Dated: January 26, 2016.
Gary H. Gibbons,
Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
[FR Doc. 2016-02120 Filed 2-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P