07-2285. National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Program Assessment and Evaluations for NIEHS-Asthma Research

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 Environmental Health Sciences, the 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.

Proposed Collection: Title: Program Assessment and Evaluations for NIEHS—Asthma Research. Type of Information Collection Request: New. New and Use of Information Collection: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT). DERT, with contract support from Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, is examining the impact of its research portfolio. Focusing specifically on one portion of the research portfolio—asthma research—DERT proposes to supplement extant data sources with a primary data collection activity. The purpose of the proposed primary data collection is to obtain information from grantees regarding the impact of their funded asthma research in the short-, intermediate- and long-term. This will be done through a survey of grantees that includes questions about the impact of funding on career development, the field of asthma research, public attitudes, commercial product development, clinical practice, business and industry practices, and long-term human and environmental health. Frequency of Response: Once. Affected Public: Individuals. Type of Respondents: Individuals receiving asthma funding. A 15-minute, close-ended, multi-mode (web and paper) survey will be administered to the universe of NIEHS-funded asthma researchers (N=295) and comparison agency asthma researchers (N=4000). Comparison agencies include other NIH institutes (NICHD, NIAID, NIA, NHLBI), the CDC, AHRQ, and the EPA. The survey development process included formative interviews with a small couple of NIEHS asthma researchers. There are no Capital Costs, Operating Costs and/or Maintenance Costs to report. There are no costs to respondents except for their time to participate.

Annualized Burden Table

Type of respondents	Estimated number of respondents	Estimated number of responses per respondent	Average burden per response	Estimated total annual burden hours requested
Asthma grantee	4295	1	.25	1073.75
Total				1073.75

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 appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

For Further Information: To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: Jerry Phelps, Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233, MD ED-21, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, RTP, NC 27709. Phone: [phone]. E-mail: [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: April 22, 2007.

Marc S. Hollander, NIEHS

Associate Director for Management.