Notices. Notice

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BILLING CODE 6560-50-P FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 *et seq.* ) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below.

The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The application also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether the acquisition of the nonbanking company complies with the standards in section 4 of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843).

Unless otherwise noted, nonbanking activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at *www.ffiec.gov/nic/* . Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than January 27, 2006. **A. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston** (Richard Walker, Community Affairs Officer) P.O.

Box 55882, Boston, Massachusetts 02106-2204: *1. First Connecticut Bancorp, Inc.* , Farmington, Connecticut; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 100 percent of the voting shares of Farmington Savings Bank, Farmington, Connecticut. **B. Federal Reserve Bank of New York** (Jay Bernstein, Bank Supervision Officer) 33 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10045-0001: *1. New York Community Bancorp, Inc.* , and New York Community Newco, Inc., both of Westbury, New York; to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of Atlantic Bank of New York, New York, New York. **C.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas** (W. Arthur Tribble, Vice President) 2200 North Pearl Street, Dallas, Texas 75201-2272: *1. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.* , San Antonio, Texas, and The New Galveston Company, Wilmington, Delaware; to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of Alamo Corporation of Texas, Alamo, Texas, and thereby indirectly acquire Alamo Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware, and Alamo Bank of Texas, Alamo, Texas. *2. Mesquite Financial Services, Inc.* , Alice, Texas; to acquire 100 percent of the voting shares of Nichols Bancshares, Inc., Kenedy, Texas, and thereby indirectly acquire J M Nichols, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, and First-Nichols National Bank, Kenedy, Texas.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, December 28, 2005. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E5-8194 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210-01-S FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Notice of Proposals to Engage in Permissible Nonbanking Activities or to Acquire Companies that are Engaged in Permissible Nonbanking Activities The companies listed in this notice have given notice under section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225) to engage *de novo* , or to acquire or control voting securities or assets of a company, including the companies listed below, that engages either directly or through a subsidiary or other company, in a nonbanking activity that is listed in § 225.28 of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has determined by Order to be closely related to banking and permissible for bank holding companies.

Unless otherwise noted, these activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Each notice is available for inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notice also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the question whether the proposal complies with the standards of section 4 of the BHC Act. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at *www.ffiec.gov/nic/* .

Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding the applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than January 17, 2006. **A. Federal Reserve Bank of New York** (Jay Bernstein, Bank Supervision Officer) 33 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10045-0001: *1. HSH Nordbank AG* , Hamburg, Germany; to engage *de novo* through its subsidiary, HSH N Financial Securities LLC, New York, New York, in providing agency transactional services for customer investments, including securities brokerage, riskless principal transactions, private placement, and other transactional services, pursuant to sections 225.28(b)(7)(i),(ii),(iii), and

(v)of Regulation Y. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, December 28, 2005. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E5-8193 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210-01-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Findings of Scientific Misconduct AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity

(ORI)and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case: *Hans E. Geisler, M.D., Saint Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center:* Based on the report of an inquiry and investigation conducted by Saint Vincent Hospital

(SVH)in Indianapolis, Indiana, and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public Health Service

(PHS)found that Hans E. Geisler, M.D., former Staff Physician and Principal Investigator for SVH's studies under the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), engaged in scientific misconduct by soliciting a pathologist to falsify the originally correct tissue-type on the pathology report (omentum) as being another type (ovary) and submitting the falsified report to the GOG group member at the University of Iowa, in order to justify enrollment of a patient in GOG clinical protocol 182. The questioned research was supported by National Institutes of Health

(NIH)funds to the University of Iowa through the American Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology under National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), cooperative agreement U10 CA27469. Dr. Geisler has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement ) in which he has voluntarily agreed, for a period of three

(3)years, beginning on December 2, 2005:

(1)To exclude himself from serving in any advisory capacity to PHS including but not limited to service on any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as consultant; and

(2)That any institution which uses the Respondent in any capacity on PHS-supported research, or that submits an application for PHS support for a research project on which the Respondent's participation is proposed or submits a report of PHS-funded research in which the Respondent's participation is continuing, must concurrently submit a plan for supervision of the Respondent's duties to the funding agency for approval. The supervisory plan must be designed to ensure the scientific integrity of the Respondent's research contribution. A copy of the supervisory plan must also be submitted to ORI by the institution. Respondent agrees that he will not participate in any PHS-supported research until such a supervision plan is submitted to ORI. Respondent disagrees with the ORI finding set forth herein but executes this Agreement to avoid further proceedings and bring this matter to a close. The execution of this Agreement shall not be deemed an admission to the charge of scientific misconduct by the Respondent. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852,

(240)453-8800. Chris B. Pascal, Director, Office of Research Integrity. [FR Doc. E5-8202 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-31-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Findings of Scientific Misconduct AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity

(ORI)and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case: *Ralph A. Highshaw, M.D., M.D. Anderson Cancer Center:* Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, the U.S. Public Health Service

(PHS)found that Ralph A. Highshaw, M.D., Fellow, Department of Urologic Surgery, MDACC, engaged in scientific misconduct while supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), postdoctoral training grant T32 CA079449-01A1. Specifically, PHS found that Dr. Highshaw engaged in scientific misconduct by plagiarizing nine pages of a twenty-one page expert review article entitled “Chemoprevention of Urologic Cancer.” Dr. Highshaw has entered into a Voluntary Exclusion Agreement (Agreement ) in which he has voluntarily agreed, for a period of three

(3)years, beginning on December 12, 2005:

(1)That he is required to certify in every PHS research application or report, and any other text, article, or manuscript, that all contributors are properly cited or otherwise acknowledged; the certification by the Respondent must be endorsed by an institutional official, and a copy of the certification is to be sent to ORI by the institution;

(2)To ensure that any institution employing him submits, in conjunction with each application for PHS funds, annual reports, manuscripts, or abstracts of PHS funded research in which the Respondent is involved, a certification that the data provided by the Respondent are based on actual experiments or are otherwise legitimately derived, and that the data, procedures, and methodology are accurately reported in the application or report; the Respondent must ensure that the institution also sends a copy of the certification to ORI; and

(3)To exclude himself from serving in any advisory capacity to PHS including but not limited to service on any PHS advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as consultant. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Investigative Oversight, Office of Research Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852,

(240)453-8800. Chris B. Pascal, Director, Office of Research Integrity. [FR Doc. E5-8201 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-31-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC)announces the following committee meeting: *Name:* Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (ABRWH), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction and Site Profile Reviews. *Subcommittee Meeting Time and Date:* 9 a.m.-5 p.m., January 24, 2006. *Committee Meeting Times and Dates:* 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., January 25, 2006. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., January 26, 2006. *Place:* Doubletree Oak Ridge Hotel, 215 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37830, telephone

(865)481-2468, fax

(865)481-2474. *Status:* Open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting space accommodates approximately 75 people. *Background:* The ABRWH was established under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) of 2000 to advise the President, delegated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), on a variety of policy and technical functions required to implement and effectively manage the new compensation program. Key functions of the Board include providing advice on the development of probability of causation guidelines which have been promulgated by HHS as a final rule, advice on methods of dose reconstruction which have also been promulgated by HHS as a final rule, advice on the scientific validity and quality of dose estimation and reconstruction efforts being performed for purposes of the compensation program, and advice on petitions to add classes of workers to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC). In December 2000, the President delegated responsibility for funding, staffing, and operating the Board to HHS, which subsequently delegated this authority to the CDC. NIOSH implements this responsibility for CDC. The charter was issued on August 3, 2001, renewed at appropriate intervals, and will expire on July 27, 2007. *Purpose:* This board is charged with

(a)providing advice to the Secretary, HHS, on the development of guidelines under Executive Order 13179;

(b)providing advice to the Secretary, HHS, on the scientific validity and quality of dose reconstruction efforts performed for this program; and

(c)upon request by the Secretary, HHS, advise the Secretary on whether there is a class of employees at any Department of Energy facility who were exposed to radiation but for whom it is not feasible to estimate their radiation dose, and on whether there is reasonable likelihood that such radiation doses may have endangered the health of members of this class. *Matters To Be Discussed:* The agenda for the meeting includes Y-12 (1948-1957) SEC; NIOSH identified SEC classes; Site Profiles for Bethlehem Steel, Rocky Flats, and Savannah River Site; Letter from Steel Workers; SEC Rule rewrite; Task 3 Review of SC&A Contract; Report on additions to the list of 22 Cancers; Conflict of Interest; Dose Reconstruction Reviews; and an update on science issues. The evening public comment sessions are scheduled for January 24 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and January 25 from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The agenda is subject to change as priorities dictate. In the event an individual cannot attend, written comments may be submitted. Any written comments received will be provided at the meeting and should be submitted to the contact person below well in advance of the meeting. *Contact Person for More Information:* Dr. Lewis V. Wade, Executive Secretary, NIOSH, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, telephone 513-533-6825, fax 513-533-6826. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign **Federal Register** notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities for both CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dated: December 27, 2005. B. Kathy Skipper, Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [FR Doc. E5-8191 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-18-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC)announces the following public meetings and request for information: *Name:* NIOSH Opportunity to Provide Input for the National Occupational Research Agenda

(NORA)with a special emphasis on the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Sector, and the Health Care and Social Assistance Sector, with regional and multi-sector input. *Meeting Dates, Times, and Places:* Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing

(AFF)Sector, Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. pst, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Multi-Sector Public Comments, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. AFF Specific Public Comments. Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI, 2700 24th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112-2099. And HealthCare and Social Assistance Sector, Monday, January 23, 2006, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. cst, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Multi-Sector Public Comments, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. HSA Specific Public Comments. The University of Texas School of Public Health Auditorium, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, Texas 77030. *Status:* Meetings are open to the public, limited only by the space available. *Background:* A large part of our lives is shaped by the work we do. NORA is a framework to guide occupational safety and health research for the nation. It is an ongoing endeavor to focus research to reduce work-related injury and illness. As the program approaches a ten-year milestone, NIOSH is hosting public meetings to seek input from individuals and organizations on important research issues and agendas. Information about the public meetings and registration can be found on the NORA Web page at *http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/townhall.* Given that NORA represents a broad-based partnership involving government, business, the worker community, academia, and others, public input is essential for planning future directions for the initiative, which will be based on eight different industry sector groups. Each meeting will be structured to provide an opportunity for regional and multi-sector input during the morning, followed where appropriate by an afternoon session to focus on individual sector issues. All participants are requested to register for the free meeting at the NORA Web page or onsite the day of the meeting. Participants wishing to speak are encouraged to register early. The public meetings are open to everyone, including all workers, professional societies, organized labor, employers, researchers, health professionals, government officials, and elected officials. Broad participation is desired. *Purpose:* The public meetings will address both regional and sector-specific priorities for research. During the morning session, stakeholders will be invited to speak for 5 minutes on an important occupational safety and health issue, including those that occur in multiple sectors. Where noted in the agenda, the afternoon session will focus on sector-specific problems facing the nation. Again, participants will be asked to make 5-minute presentations describing what they perceive to be the top concerns within their sector or sub-sector. Participants are encouraged to attend both the regional and sector-specific sessions, or they may elect to participate in only one session. Types of occupational safety and health issues might include diseases, injuries, exposures, populations at risk, and needs of occupational safety and health systems. For example, falls from heights might be a top injury issue for the residential construction industry. Low back pain and related back disorders might be a top disease concern for the urban transit industry. If possible, please include as much information as might be useful for understanding the safety or health research priority you identify. Such information could include characterization of the frequency and severity with which the injury, illness, or hazardous exposure is occurring and of the factors you believe might be causing the health or safety issue. Input is also requested on the types of research that you believe might make a difference and the partners (e.g., specific industry associations, labor organizations, research organizations, governmental agencies) who should be involved in informing research efforts and in solving the problem. All presentations will be entered into the NORA Docket, which is maintained by NIOSH. All comments in the NORA Docket will be used to help shape sector-specific and related cross-sector research agendas for the nation. These events are part of a series of public meetings which will occur in the months preceding the NORA Symposium (April 18-20, 2006 in Washington, DC). Upcoming meetings will include: Wholesale and Retail Trade; Manufacturing; Mining; Services; Regional Issues; and a summary session. Future **Federal Register** announcements will provide more information on these meetings. Previous meetings have discussed Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, and Construction. *Contact Person for More Information:* Sid Soderholm, Ph.D., NORA Coordinator,

(202)401-0721. *Address:* Comments may also be e-mailed to *niocindocket@cdc.gov,* or sent via postal mail to: Docket NIOSH-047, Robert A. Taft Laboratories (C-34), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226. Stakeholders are also invited to submit comments electronically at the NORA Web page *http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora.* Comments submitted to the Web page by others can also be viewed there. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign **Federal Register** Notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dated: December 27, 2005. B. Kathy Skipper, Acting Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [FR Doc. E5-8192 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-19-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. 2005N-0500] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Requirements for Collection of Data Relating to the Prevention of Medical Gas Mixups at Health Care Facilities—Survey AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA)is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the **Federal Register** concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on measures, taken by certain health care medical facilities that use medical oxygen, to prevent mixups with other gases. DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by March 6, 2006. ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to *http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments* . Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Nelson, Office of Management Programs (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-1482. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the **Federal Register** concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document. With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics:

(1)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2)the accuracy of FDA'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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology. Requirements for Collection of Data Relating to the Prevention of Medical Gas Mixups at Health Care Facilities—Survey (OMB Control Number 0910-0548)—Extension FDA has received four reports of medical gas mixups occurring during the past 7 years. These reports were received from hospitals and nursing homes and involved 7 deaths and 15 injuries to patients who were thought to be receiving medical grade oxygen, but who were actually receiving a different gas (e.g., nitrogen, argon) that had been mistakenly connected to the facility's oxygen supply system. In 2001, FDA published guidance making recommendations to help hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities avoid the tragedies that result from medical gas mixups and alerting these facilities to the hazards. This survey is intended to assess the degree of facilities' compliance with safety measures to prevent mixups and to determine if further steps are warranted to ensure the safety of patients. FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows: **Table 1.—Estimated Annual Reporting Burden** 1 21 CFR Section No. of Respondents Annual Frequency per Response Total Annual Responses Hours per Response Total Hours 210 and 211 285 1 285 .25 71.25 Total 71.25 1 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information. Dated: December 22, 2005. Jeffrey Shuren, Assistant Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. E5-8113 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-01-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. 2005N-0220] Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Related Regulations for Blood and Blood Components; and Requirements for Donor Testing, Donor Notification, and “Lookback” AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA)is announcing that a collection of information entitled “Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Related Regulations for Blood and Blood Components; and Requirements for Donor Testing, Donor Notification, and ‘Lookback’” has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonna Capezzuto, Office of Management Programs (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-4659. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the **Federal Register** of October 24, 2005 (70 FR 61447), the agency announced that the proposed information collection had been submitted to OMB for review and clearance under 44 U.S.C. 3507. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has now approved the information collection and has assigned OMB control number 0910-0116. The approval expires on December 31, 2008. A copy of the supporting statement for this information collection is available on the Internet at *http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets* . Dated: December 22, 2005. Jeffrey Shuren, Assistant Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. E5-8134 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-01-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institute of Health Translational Research Working Group Public Comment Period AGENCY: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ACTION: Request for public comment. SUMMARY: The Translational Research Working Group (TRWG), a broad panel including advocates, researchers from academia, industry representatives, and government officials, was established in early 2005 to evaluate the status of the National Cancer Institute's

(NCI)intramural and extramural investment in translational research in order to develop recommendations on ways to coordinate and optimally integrate activities. The TRWG is also charged with developing implementation strategies that will enable the scientific community and NCI leadership to appropriately prioritize its translational research opportunities. Recommendations will be made to the National Cancer Advisory Board by early 2007. To assist in its future planning efforts, TRWG is asking public stakeholders in the translational research enterprise for feedback on some of the key questions facing the panel and insights on how to proceed. DATES: The TRWG public comment period will run from December 20, 2005 to January 20, 2006. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically at the TRWG Web site: *http://www.cancer.gov/trwg/.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The National Cancer Institute is committed to speeding the development of new diagnostic tests, cancer treatments, and other interventions that benefit people with cancer and people at risk for cancer. Such development relies on strong translational research collaborations between basic and clinical scientists to generate novel approaches. Currently, NCI supports a variety of projects that build this bridge between basic science and patient care. Over the next year, the Translational Research Working Group

(TRWG)will review NCI's current intramural and extramural translational research portfolio (within the scope of the TRWG mission), facilitate broad community input, invite public comment, and recommend ways to improve and integrate efforts. The ultimate goal is to accelerate progress toward improving the health of the nation and cancer patient outcomes. Request for Comments To better understand the different viewpoints in the cancer research community, and to develop and reflect a common understanding about the challenges and opportunities in translational research, TRWG seeks input on six important areas: • Barriers to/Incentives for Translational Research. • Prioritization. • Funding. • System Organization. • Facilities/Technologies. • Manpower/Training. Dated: December 22, 2005. Ernest Hawk, Director, Office of Centers, Training and Resources, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. [FR Doc. 05-24687 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am]

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