2014-28498. Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; Surveys and Interviews To Support an Evaluation of the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program (NCI)

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 Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes 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.

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) 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) 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) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

To Submit Comments and For Further Information: To obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Anthony Dickherber, NCI Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, 31 Center Drive, Rm10A33, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call non-toll-free number 301-547-9980 or Email your request, including your address to: [e-mail]. Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing.

Comment 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.

Proposed Collection: Surveys and Interviews to Support an Evaluation of the Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) Program (NCI), 0925-NEW, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Need and Use of Information Collection: The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to pursue a comprehensive process and outcome assessment of the 15-year old Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program. While the program consistently offers promising indicators of success, the full program has not been evaluated since 2008, and never in as comprehensive a manner as has been formulated in the current evaluation plan. An outcome evaluation of the long-standing National Cancer Institute's (NCI) IMAT program presents a rich and unique opportunity likely to serve institutes across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and perhaps other federal agencies, considering the costs and benefits of directing resources towards supporting technology development. An award through the NIH Evaluation Set-Aside program to support this evaluation, for which NIH-wide relevance is a principle element of determining merit for support, is testament to this. The evaluation serves as an opportunity to gauge the impact of investments in technology development and also to assess the strengths and weaknesses of phased innovation award mechanisms.

Like all institutes and centers (ICs) of the NIH, NCI seeks opportunities for improving their programs' utility for the broad continuum of researchers, clinicians and ultimately patients. NCI Director Harold Varmus and other leadership across NCI, as well as the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors, will be the primary users of the evaluation results. Findings are primarily intended for considering the long-term strategy to support innovative technology development and how to more efficiently translate emerging capabilities through such technologies into the promised benefits for cancer research and clinical care. Interviews with grantees, program officers, review officers, and other NIH awardees make up a crucial component of the evaluation plan and will largely follow set survey protocols. Specific near-term aims include the use of this information to consider the utility of continued investment through existing solicitations and in strategic planning generally for institute support for innovative technology development.

OMB approval is requested for 1 year. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 575.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Form name	Type of respondents	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total annual burden hours
IMAT Awardee Interview	IMAT Awardees	100	1	1	100
Evaluation Web-based Survey	IMAT Awardees, and other NIH Awardees (Comparison group)	900	1	30/60	450
Tech End Users Interview	Technology End-Users	50	1	30/60	25

Dated: November 24, 2014.

Karla Bailey,

NCI Project Clearance Liaison, National Institutes of Health.