E6-7626. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; a Process/Outcome Evaluation of Parkinson's Disease Research Centers

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Office of Science Policy and Planning, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2005, pages 75823-75824, and allowed 60-days for public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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 provided in the following table:

Type of respondents	Estimated number of respondents	Estimated frequency of response	Estimated average time per response	Estimated annual hour burden
Center Directors	13	2	1.5	39
Project/Core Directors	54	2	1.5	162
Comparison Group	54	1	1.0	54
Totals	121			255

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:

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burdenand associated response time, should be directed to the: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for NIH. 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 301-496-9271; 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 30-days of the date of this publication.

Dated: May 11, 2006.

Story C. Landis,

Director, NINDS, National Institutes of Health.