05-24306. Proposed Collection; Comment Request; A Process/Outcome Evaluation of Parkinson's Disease Research Centers

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Office of Science Policy and Planning, the National Institute of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Proposed Collection: Title: A Process/Outcome Evaluation of Parkinson's Disease Research Centers. Type of Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of Information Collection: This study is primarily an outcome evaluation, designed to assess the extent to which the NINDS-funded Morris K. Udall Centers for Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research have achieved the program's short-term and long-term goals. The study also includes elements of a process evaluation in its examination of the major activities conducted by the Udall Centers, the relationship between Center activities and the achievement of program goals, and the NINDS management of the program. The results of the full-scale evaluation should be very helpful to NINDS in identifying the most relevant measures for tracking the future progress of the Centers, developing strategies to enhance the program's effectiveness, and improving program management. NINDS will also use the findings to inform its National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council, and to address inquiries from the public regarding the impact of the Udall Centers Program. Lastly, Udall Center awardees will be able to use the evaluation results to improve the performance of their Centers; and other NIH Institutes and Centers may use the methodology and results of this evaluation to guide their own centers assessments. Frequency of Response: Once or twice. Affected Public: Researchers, Not-for-profit institutions; Federal Government; individuals or households. Type of Respondents: Adult professionals.

The annual reporting burden is represented in the following table:

Type of respondents	Number of respondents	Frequency of response	Average time per response (hour)	Annual hour burden
Center Directors	13	2	1.5	39
Project/Core Directors	54	1	1.5	81
Comparison Group	54	1	1.0	54
Totals	121			174

There are no Capital Costs to report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.

Request for Comments: Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriated automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: Dr. Melinda Kelley, Office of Science Policy and Planning, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Building 31, 31 Center Drive, Room 8A-03, Bethesda, MD 20892; call non-toll-free [phone]; or E-mail your request, including your address to: [e-mail].

Comments Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication.

Dated: December 9, 2005.

Story C. Landis,

Director, NINDS, National Institutes of Health.