[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58005-58006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26453]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Request for Information on the Office of Disease Prevention 
Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2019-2023

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Request for Information (RFI) is intended to gather broad 
public input on the FY 2019-2023 Strategic Plan for the Office of 
Disease Prevention (ODP) in the Division of Program Coordination, 
Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), National Institutes of 
Health (NIH). The ODP invites input from prevention researchers in 
academia and industry, health care professionals, patient advocates and 
advocacy organizations, scientific or professional organizations, 
federal agencies, and other interested members of the public. 
Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit a single response that 
reflects the views of their organization and membership as a whole.

DATES: The ODP's Request for Information is open for public comment for 
a period of 45 days. Comments must be received by January 22, 2018 to 
ensure consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted electronically using the web-
based form available at https://prevention.nih.gov/strategic-plan/request-for-information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please direct all inquiries to Wilma 
Peterman Cross, M.S.; Deputy Director, Office of Disease Prevention, 
National Institutes of Health; Phone: 301-827-5561; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To ensure consideration, responses must be 
submitted electronically using the web-based form available at https://prevention.nih.gov/strategic-plan/request-for-information. The web form 
will provide confirmation of response submission, but respondents will 
not receive individualized feedback. All respondents are encouraged to 
sign up for the ODP email list at http://prevention.nih.gov/subscribe 
to receive information related to Office activities, including updates 
on the development and release of the final strategic plan.
    The mission of the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) is to improve 
the public health by increasing the scope, quality, dissemination, and 
impact of prevention research supported by the

[[Page 58006]]

NIH. The ODP fulfills this mission by providing leadership for the 
development, coordination, and implementation of prevention research in 
collaboration with NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices and other 
partners. The first ODP strategic plan was released in February 2014 
and charted new directions and, at the same time, built upon and 
expanded existing programs. The Office has made considerable progress 
on the priorities identified in the initial plan, and the ODP remains 
committed to playing an integral role in advancing trans-NIH 
prevention-related activities. Input received from this Request for 
Information will inform the development of the final FY 2019-2023 
Strategic Plan, which will outline activities coordinated by the ODP to 
assess, facilitate, and stimulate research in disease prevention, and 
disseminate the results of this research to improve public health.
    The ODP is seeking input on the following strategic priorities:
     Strategic Priority I: Systematically monitor NIH 
investments in prevention research and the progress and results of that 
research.
     Strategic Priority II: Identify prevention research areas 
for investment or expanded effort by the NIH.
     Strategic Priority III: Promote the use of the best 
available methods in prevention research and support the development of 
better methods.
     Strategic Priority IV: Promote collaborative prevention 
research projects and facilitate coordination of such projects across 
the NIH and with other public and private entities.
     Strategic Priority V: Advance the understanding of 
prevention research, increase the availability of prevention research 
resources and programs, and enhance ODP's stakeholder engagement.
    The ODP is also seeking input on the following questions:
     What new strategic priorities should the ODP consider 
adding to its plan?
     What opportunities or challenges in disease prevention 
research and methods could the ODP help to address?
     Who should the ODP partner with to address pressing needs 
in disease prevention research and methods?
     What areas transcend disease prevention research that the 
ODP should consider as it develops its new plan?
    The definition of prevention research used by the ODP to guide its 
work and decision-making encompasses research designed to yield results 
directly applicable to identifying and assessing risk, developing 
interventions for preventing or ameliorating high-risk behaviors and 
exposures, the occurrence of a disease, disorder, or injury, or the 
progression of detectable but asymptomatic disease. Prevention research 
also includes research studies to develop and evaluate disease 
prevention, health promotion recommendations, and public health 
programs. The ODP definition of prevention includes the following 
categories of research:
     Identification of modifiable risk and protective factors 
for diseases/disorders/injuries
     Studies on assessment of risk, including genetic 
susceptibility
     Development of methods for screening and identification of 
markers for those at risk for onset or progression of asymptomatic 
diseases/disorders, or those at risk for adverse, high-risk behaviors/
injuries
     Development and evaluation of interventions to promote 
health for groups of individuals without recognized signs or symptoms 
of the target condition
     Translation of proven effective prevention interventions 
into practice
     Effectiveness studies that examine factors related to the 
organization, management, financing, and adoption of prevention 
services and practices
     Methodological and statistical procedures for assessing 
risk and measuring the effects of preventive interventions.
    Responses to this RFI are voluntary and may be submitted 
anonymously. Please do not include any personally identifiable or other 
information that you do not wish to make public. Proprietary, 
classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be 
included in responses. Comments submitted will be compiled for 
discussion and incorporated into the strategic plan as appropriate. Any 
personal identifiers (personal names, email addresses, etc.) will be 
removed when responses are compiled.
    This RFI is for informational and 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 information submitted or for use of 
that information.

    Dated: December 1, 2017.
Lawrence A. Tabak,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-26453 Filed 12-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4140-01-P