NIH will seek public comment on Roadmap Initiative ideas

NIH will seek public comment on Roadmap Initiative ideas

The NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, which is now managed under the auspices of the Office of Portfolio Analysis and Strategic Initiatives (OPASI) in the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health, has a new process for idea solicitation and initiative selection. Several meetings have taken place to help senior NIH leadership identify crosscutting needs and challenges in biomedical research that meet the criteria for Roadmap initiatives. NIH Institutes, Centers and Offices (ICs) also have been nominating ideas for Roadmap initiatives this summer.

Idea descriptions from both activities will be posted for public comment and input this fall when the NIH launches a Web-based Request for Information (RFI) soliciting a broad range of input and ideas from both scientific and lay communities. The RFI will be released mid-October 2006 in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, providing an opportunity for respondents to comment on the ideas already suggested and/or submit new ideas.

Information from this idea nomination process will be posted on the OPASI Web site as it becomes available. Please direct your questions or comments to askopasi@od.nih.gov.