[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29871-29872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11283]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Request for Information for Developing the National Cancer 
Moonshot Initiative

SUMMARY: This Request for Information (RFI) describes ways in which the 
cancer research community and public can provide new ideas and comment 
on proceedings of the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) Blue Ribbon 
Panel under the umbrella of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

DATES: Responses should be submitted to the National Cancer Institute 
(NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) on or before 5:00 p.m. EST 
on July 1, 2016.

[[Page 29872]]


ADDRESSES: Electronic responses are preferred and should be addressed 
or submitted to either: (1) The online platform, Cancer Research Ideas, 
at https://cancerresearchideas.cancer.gov; or (2) email to 
[email protected]. Non-electronic responses will also be accepted 
by calling the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237 or by 
mail to Blue Ribbon Panel, National Cancer Moonshot Initiative, 
National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 
20892-9760.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Questions about this request for information 
should be directed to Kelli Marciel, National Cancer Institute, 9609 
Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-9760, [email protected], 
301-594-3330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During his State of the Union address on 
January 12, 2016, President Barack Obama announced the establishment of 
a new National Cancer Moonshot Initiative to accelerate cancer 
research. The initiative, led by Vice President Joe Biden, aims to make 
more therapies available to more patients, while also improving our 
ability to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage. Additional 
details of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative are available at 
http://www.cancer.gov/research/key-initiatives/moonshot-cancer-initiative.
    The White House and Vice President Biden have named a Task Force of 
13 heads of federal agencies and offices who will advise the 
administration on research priorities. To ensure that the National 
Cancer Moonshot Initiative's goals and approaches are grounded in the 
best science, President Obama directed the Moonshot Task Force to 
consult with external experts, including the presidentially appointed 
National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB). A Blue Ribbon Panel of experts 
has been established as a working group of the NCAB that will assist 
the board in providing this advice.
    The Blue Ribbon Panel is composed of leading experts from a broad 
range of scientific areas, including biology, immunology, genomics, 
diagnostics, bioinformatics, and cancer prevention and treatment. 
Members also include investigators with expertise in clinical trials 
and cancer health disparities. In addition to researchers, the panel 
membership also includes clinicians and nurses, and representatives of 
cancer advocacy organizations and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
industries.
    The Blue Ribbon Panel will focus on identifying scientific 
opportunities in cancer research that could produce major advances with 
additional emphasis and funding, and propose ways to overcome barriers 
to pursuing these opportunities.
    Community input is critical to the success of the National Cancer 
Moonshot Initiative. Indeed, the success of the initiative will depend 
on breaking down silos and encouraging everyone with an interest in 
fighting cancer to work together, share information, and collaborate on 
solutions. To enable the Blue Ribbon Panel to consider a wide range of 
input from researchers, scientists, physicians, advocates, students, 
data scientists, and members of the public, anyone with a scientific 
idea or suggestion for addressing cancer research challenges can 
contribute by visiting https://cancerresearchideas.cancer.gov.
    Input is sought in the following areas:

 Expanding clinical trials
 Enhanced data sharing
 Cancer immunology and prevention
 Implementation sciences
 Pediatric cancer
 Precision, prevention and early detection
 Tumor evolution and progression
    This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed 
as a solicitation for applications or proposals, or as an obligation in 
any way on the part of the United States Federal government. The 
Federal government will not pay for the preparation of any information 
submitted or for the government's use. Additionally, the government 
cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided.

    Dated: May 5, 2016.
Dinah Singer,
Acting Deputy Director, National Cancer Institute.
[FR Doc. 2016-11283 Filed 5-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P