[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 26646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10726]
[[Page 26646]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Office of Health Assessment and Translation Evaluation of the
State of the Science for Transgenerational Inheritance of Health
Effects; Request for Information
SUMMARY: The Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) of the
Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is initiating one or more
systematic reviews to examine the state of the science for
transgenerational inheritance of health effects. The specific scope of
the evaluation will be determined following a phase of exploratory
screening of the literature and consideration of responses to this
request for information (RFI). OHAT requests information on the
proposed approach for conducting the exploratory screening of the
literature and the identification of scientists with knowledge or
expertise relevant to this topic.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of information is June 28, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Information should be submitted at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38656.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vickie R. Walker, Health Scientist,
OHAT, DNTP, NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-04, Research Triangle Park, NC
27709; telephone (919) 541-4514; FAX: (301) 480-3337;
[email protected]. Courier Address: NIEHS, Room 2163, 530 Davis
Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: There is a large body of evidence indicating that early
life exposures can lead to disease outcomes later in life. The effects
of these exposures are thought to be limited to the exposed generation,
such that subsequent generations are unaffected by the exposure history
of their parents and grandparents. However, recent reports have
suggested that this may not be the case, and that adverse outcomes may
be carried over to multiple unexposed generations. This phenomenon is
known as ``transgenerational inheritance.'' If the effects of exposure
can indeed be transmitted to subsequent generations, this would have
major public health implications. It is critical to determine how
widespread and robust this phenomenon is, the factors that influence
it, the mechanism by which it occurs, and the range of possible
phenotypic outcomes (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-12-006.html). To assist with this effort, OHAT is initiating one
or more evaluations using systematic review methodology to examine the
state of the science for transgenerational inheritance of health
effects associated with exposure to a wide range of stressors (e.g.,
environmental chemicals, drugs of abuse, nutrition and diet,
pharmaceuticals, infectious agents, or stress).
The specific scope of the evaluation will be determined following a
phase of exploratory screening of the literature and consideration of
responses to this RFI.
Request for Information: A document outlining the proposed approach
to conduct the exploratory screening is available at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38656. OHAT requests information on the proposed
approach for conducting the exploratory screening of the literature and
the identification of scientists with knowledge or expertise relevant
to this topic. Specifically, this information will help to (1) refine
the proposed literature search strategy and criteria used to conduct
the exploratory screening; (2) identify potential areas of focus for
the systematic review(s); (3) identify unpublished, ongoing, or planned
studies related to transgenerational inheritance; and (4) identify
scientists with expertise or knowledge relative to this topic.
Responses are requested from all interested parties, such as the
research community, health professionals, educators, policy makers,
industry, and the public. Responses to this RFI are voluntary. OHAT
does not intend to publish a summary of responses received or any other
information provided, except very broad characterizations. Despite
this, proprietary, classified, or confidential information should not
be included in the response. This RFI is for planning purposes only and
is not a solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of
the U.S. Government to provide support for any ideas identified in
response to it. Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for
the preparation of any information submitted or for its use of that
information. The U.S. Government is under no obligation to acknowledge
receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents
with respect to any information submitted.
Future updates on this project, will be posted at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/38159. Individuals interested in receiving updates
on this and other NTP projects are encouraged to register to the NTP
Listserv (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/getnews).
Background Information on the NTP and OHAT: The NTP is an
interagency program, established in 1978 (43 FR 53060) and
headquartered at the NIEHS, whose mission is to evaluate agents of
public health concern by developing and applying tools of modern
toxicology and molecular biology. The NTP carries out literature
analysis activities in OHAT and the Office of the Reports on
Carcinogens within the DNTP. The NTP also designs and conducts
laboratory studies and testing programs and analyzes its findings to
assess potential hazards to human health from exposure to environmental
substances (see http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/).
OHAT was established to serve as an environmental health resource
to the public and to regulatory and health agencies. This office
conducts evaluations to assess the evidence that environmental
chemicals, physical substances, or mixtures (collectively referred to
as ``substances'') cause adverse health effects and provides opinions
on whether these substances may be of concern given what is known about
current human exposure levels. OHAT also organizes workshops or state-
of-the-science evaluations to address issues of importance in
environmental health sciences. OHAT assessments are published as NTP
Monographs. Information about OHAT is found at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/ohat.
Dated: April 26, 2013.
John R. Bucher,
Associate Director, National Toxicology Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-10726 Filed 5-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P