[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13133]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 31, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
[CDC-467]
Cooperative Agreement With the International Centre for Birth
Defects, Rome, Italy
Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a cooperative agreement
with the International Centre for Birth Defects to further develop and
establish: (1) An international epidemiologic research program, (2) an
international surveillance and monitoring system, and (3) a setting for
training epidemiologists in the prevention of birth defects. The
International Centre for Birth Defects (the Centre) was previously
funded by the CDC in 1991. This is a competitive renewal of the
program. Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 1994 to support this
project. It is expected the award will begin on or about September 30,
1994, for a 12-month budget period within a 3-year project period.
Continuation awards within the project period are made on the basis of
satisfactory progress and availability of funds.
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist and
collaborate with the Centre in establishing and strengthening
epidemiologic research, surveillance and monitoring, and training, in
order to promote the further understanding of the prevention of birth
defects. CDC will provide guidance on program management and
administrative matters related to the conduct of the scientific
aspects; provide technical and scientific consultation and assistance
for the implementation of all epidemiologic and surveillance activities
conducted; provide scientific consultation and assistance in
formulating the research plan; provide guidance on program management
and administrative matters related to conduct of the scientific
aspects; and collaborate in the definition and preparation of the
scientific epidemiologic reports that result from the cooperative
agreement.
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of ``Healthy People
2000,'' a PHS-led national activity for reducing morbidity and
mortality and improving the quality of life. This announcement is
related to the priority areas of Environmental Health, Maternal and
Infant Health, and Surveillance and Data Systems. (For ordering a copy
of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the section ``Where To Obtain
Additional Information''.)
Authority
This program is authorized under section 301 (42 U.S.C. 241) and
307(a) (42 U.S.C. 242(l)) of the Public Health Service Act, sections
1-6 of the International Health Research Act of 1960 (22 U.S.C.
2101-2104) and section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2151b).
Smoke-Free Workplace
The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all
tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission of promoting
the protection and advancement of an individual's physical and mental
health.
Eligible Applicant
Assistance will be provided only to the International Centre for
Birth Defects, Rome, Italy, for this project. No other applications are
solicited. The Program Announcement and application kit have been sent
to the International Centre for Birth Defects.
The International Centre for Birth Defects is the only appropriate
and qualified institution to provide the services specified under this
cooperative agreement for the following reasons:
1. Serving as the Clearinghouse headquarters, the Centre is the
only organization with access to all the data from the 26 member
programs. No one in the United States or its territories has access to
this data.
2. The Centre is devoted to the prevention of birth defects through
surveillance, training, and epidemiologic research. It is located in
Rome, Italy, and was established in 1988 on the initiative of the
International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Programs
(Clearinghouse). It serves as a headquarters for the Clearinghouse.
3. The International Clearinghouse itself was founded in 1974 with
CDC as a charter member. The Clearinghouse's Annual Report provides
additional information on the Clearinghouse and each of its program
members. It is now comprised of 26 member programs from 20 nations and
is affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a nonprofit,
non-Governmental Organization. The primary purpose of the Clearinghouse
is to provide a forum for member programs to share information. This
sharing is done through regular quarterly reports of data, at annual
meetings, and through informal contacts of the staff of member
programs. There is no similar organization in the United States.
4. The Clearinghouse programs have participated in many important
international collaborative projects related to birth defects. Notable
among them was one that led to the discovery that the anti-epileptic
drug valproic acid (Depakene) causes spina bifida.
5. The Centre shows promise of providing unique contributions to
the understanding and prevention of birth defects. The results of
international collaborative scientific work will not only help the
Centre and its member countries formulate strategies for the prevention
of birth defects through training, surveillance, and epidemiologic
research, but the scientific knowledge gained will provide reciprocal
and direct benefits to the United States, yielding important data to
strengthen the scientific basis in the United States' quest for the
prevention of genetic diseases and birth defects.
Executive Order 12372 Review
The application is not subject to review under Executive Order
12372.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this
program is 93.283.
Where To Obtain Additional Information
If you are interested in obtaining additional information regarding
this project, please refer to Announcement 467 and contact Lisa G.
Tamaroff, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone (404) 842-6796, for business
management technical assistance.
A copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' (Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000'' (Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-
00473-1) referenced in the ``Summary'' may be obtained through the
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402-9325, telephone (202) 783-3238.
Dated: May 23, 1994.
Ladene H. Newton,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 94-13133 Filed 5-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
