Notice Number: NOT-HL-05-105

Key Dates
Release Date: February 9, 2005
Response Due Date: March 11, 2005

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with other NIH Institutes, is planning to establish a multicenter epidemiologic study in Hispanic populations to identify risk factors playing a protective or harmful role in disease in Hispanic populations, and to determine the role of acculturation in the prevalence and development of these diseases. The NHLBI plans to issue a Request for Proposals to establish this study, with eight-year contracts anticipated. Accordingly, the NHLBI is soliciting input from the scientific community; national organizations representing and serving the Hispanic community; and the public on prioritization of scientific issues to address, as well as ways to successfully obtain, community awareness, support and participation in this study.

Background

The Hispanic population is now the largest minority population in the US with a projected three-fold growth by 2050. If Hispanic populations follow the patterns of most other immigrant groups, their risk of chronic disease associated with US lifestyle and culture is likely to increase. Yet, Hispanic populations are very much understudied with respect to many diseases. Research in differing cultural settings, such as various Hispanic groups with varying periods of residence in the US, may identify differences in risk factor associations not identifiable in more homogenous US populations.

The planned study will examine and follow up to four community-based cohorts of adults, all of Hispanic origin. Each cohort will likely be predominantly derived from one Hispanic subgroup, i.e., Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and Central/South Americans. Social, behavioral, occupational and lifestyle factors associated with disease risk and acculturation (e.g., nutrition habits, access to health care, role of family and community) will be measured, along with laboratory and clinical assessments. Subsequent disease events will be identified. Community education and feedback of both study-specific and general information to improve the health of the communities will be provided.

Additional background information can be found in the report from the NHLBI Working Group on Epidemiologic Research in Hispanic Populations: Opportunities, Barriers and Solutions meeting, held July 31st-August 1 2003: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/hispanic.htm.

Information Requested

1. Please prioritize the most important scientific questions you feel should be addressed by such a study.

2. Please identify ways in which this research program can benefit the communities involved, recognizing that the NIH mandate is predominantly research-oriented and that the planned study will not be able to provide patient care to participants.

3. Please identify ways to obtain community input and engender awareness of the value and benefit of the proposed study in the selected communities.

4. Please identify approaches to optimize recruitment and retention of community members into the study.

5. Please identify approaches to community outreach and education that would be appropriate for U.S. Hispanic communities.

6. Please identify ways local and national Hispanic-serving organizations may facilitate this research program.

7. Please propose ways Hispanic-serving organizations might aid in handling health problems that may be discovered in participants who do not have access to health care services.

8. Please provide any other information you feel would be helpful in planning this study.

Responses

Responses in any of the areas are welcome; respondents should not feel compelled to address all items.

Responses should be identified with this Notice identifier (NOT-HL-05-105) and are due by March 11, 2005.

This Request for Information (RFI) is covered under the Privacy Act System of Records 09-25-0200, "Clinical, Epidemiologic and Biometric Studies of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS/NIH/OD." Attached is a copy. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a grant or contract on the basis of responses to this RFI nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. No basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or the Government's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent announcement. Responses will be held in a confidential manner. Any proprietary information should be so marked.

To respond, please link to the online form at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/inits/hispanicform.htm or send a letter, fax or email to the following address:

Kristiane E. Cooper, Contracting Officer
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Dr., Rm. 6137, MSC 7902
Bethesda, MD 20892-7902
Phone: 301-435-0345
FAX: 301-480-3432
E-mail: NHLBI_HispanicPopulations@nhlbi.nih.gov

We look forward to your input and hope you will share this document with your colleagues.

Thank you very much for your help.

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	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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