2015-07999. Proposed Collection; 60-day Comment Request: Identifying Experts in Prevention Science Methods To Include on NIH Review Panels (OD)

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, regarding the opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) 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 to address 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) 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 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: Paris Watson, Senior Advisor, NIH Office of Disease Prevention, 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 2B03, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call [phone] or email your request, including your address to [e-mail]. Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing.

DATES:

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.

Proposed Collection: Identifying Experts in Prevention Science Methods to Include on NIH Review Panels, 0925—New, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Need and Use of Information Collection: The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) is the lead Office at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) responsible for assessing, facilitating, and stimulating research in disease prevention and health promotion, and disseminating the results of this research to improve public health. Prevention is preferable to treatment, and research on disease prevention is an important part of the NIH's mission. The knowledge gained from this research leads to stronger clinical practice, health policy, and community health programs. ODP collaborates with the NIH, other Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) agencies, and other public and private partners to achieve the Office's mission and goals. One of our priorities is to promote the use of the best available methods in prevention research and support the development of better methods. One of our strategies is to help the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) identify experts in prevention science methods to include on their review panels. This will strengthen the panels and improve the quality of the prevention research supported by the NIH. To identify experts in prevention science methods, we worked with our contractor, IQ Solutions, Inc., to develop online software which will allow us to collect scientists' names, contact information, and resumes, as well as to have those scientists identify their level of expertise in a variety of prevention science methods and content areas. The data collected with this software will be used to create a web-based tool that CSR staff can use to identify scientists with expertise in specific prevention science methods and content areas for invitation to serve on one of the CSR review panels. If successful, this system will also be shared with review staff in the other Institutes and Centers at the NIH, as well as other DHHS agencies, to use in the same way. Given our plans to create an automated system for reviewer information collection, we are now seeking OMB approval. This PRA clearance request is for the deployment of this new online software and the collection of data.

OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 1,040.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours

Type of respondents	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average time per response (in hours)	Total annual burden hour
Investigators	3,120	1	20/60	1040

Dated: April 1, 2015.

Lawrence A. Tabak,

Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.