15530 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 1997 / Notices

characterize viral regulators of the PKR

kinase, that should also be useful for

identifying anti-viral agents that

counteract the viral regulators. To

expedite research and development of

this system, the National Institutes of

Health is seeking CRADAs with

pharmaceutical or biotechnology

companies in accordance with the

regulations governing the transfer of

Government-developed agents. Any

proposal to use or develop this system

will be considered.

ADDRESSES: CRADA proposals and

questions about this opportunity should

be addressed to: Dr. Gordon Guroff,

Deputy Scientific Director, National

Institute of Child Health and Human

Development, Building 49, Room 5A64,

Bethesda, MD 20892 (301/496–4751).

DATES: CRADA proposals should be

received on or before July 30, 1997 for

priority consideration. However,

CRADA proposals submitted thereafter

will be considered until a suitable

CRADA Collaborator is selected.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

protein kinase PKR is a component of

the interferon-induced anti-viral defense

mechanism in mammalian cells. Upon

activation by binding double-stranded

RNA in infected cells, the kinase downregulates the cellular translational

apparatus, and thus impairs viral

protein expression. To overcome the

inhibitory effects of PKR, viruses have

developed efficient methods to prevent

the activation or function of the kinase.

A potential site of therapeutic

intervention is to block viral inhibition

of PKR.

The NICHD has developed a microbial

system in the yeast Saccharomyces

cerevisiae in which expression of PKR

inhibits growth by down-regulating

cellular protein synthesis. The toxicity

of PKR in this system can be relieved by

co-expression of viral regulatory factors

including the vaccinia virus K3L

protein. This simple microbial system

should be amenable to high through-put

screens to identify anti-viral agents that

inactivate viral regulators of PKR, and

thus restore PKR toxicity in this system.

In addition, agents that act on PKR and

reduce the sensitivity of PKR to viral

regulatory factors could also be

identified. This system should also be

useful to identify regulators of PKR from

other viruses, and then subsequently

used to identify inhibitors of these

newly identified viral regulatory factors.

In an effort to expedite research and

development of new anti-viral agents

targeting PKR, the National Institute of

Child Health and Human Development

seeks a CRADA partner(s) for joint

exploration. Any CRADA proposals for

use of this system will be considered.

The CRADA aims will include the

rapid publication of research results

consistent with protection of proprietary

information and patentable inventions

as well as the timely exploitation of

commercial opportunities. The CRADA

partner will enjoy the benefits of first

negotiation for licensing Government

rights to any inventions arising under

the agreement and will advance funds

payable upon signing the CRADA to

help defray Government expenses for

patenting such inventions and other

CRADA-related costs.

The role of the National Institute of

Child Health and Human Development

will be as follows:

1. Provide the collaborator with the

data on the system covered by the

agreement.

2. Provide the yeast strains and

plasmids covered by the agreement.

3. Continue studies on the system to

optimize growth tests for screens.

4. Work cooperatively with the

Collaborator to perform the necessary

controls to validate results from screens.

5. Jointly identify additional PKR

inhibitors, and establish necessary

strains for anti viral screens.

The role of the Collaborator will be as

follows:

1. Undertake studies to evaluate the

usefulness of this system for high

through-put screens.

2. Cooperate to identify additional

PKR inhibitors that could be tested

using this system.

3. Undertake studies using this system

to identify agents that inactivate viral

inhibitors of PKR.

Selection criteria for choosing the

CRADA Collaborator(s) will include but

are not limited to the following:

1. The ability to collaborate with the

NICHD on further research and

development of this technology. This

ability can be demonstrated through

experience and expertise in this and

related areas of technology.

2. The demonstration of adequate

resources to perform the research and

development of this technology (e.g.,

personnel, expertise, and facilities) and

accomplish objectives according to an

appropriate timetable to be outlined in

the CRADA Collaborator’s proposal.

3. The level of financial support the

CRADA Collaborator will provide for

CRADA related Government activities.

4. The willingness to cooperate with

the NICHD in publication of research

results consistent with the protection of

proprietary information and patentable

inventions which may arise during the

period of the agreement.

5. Agreement to be bound by DHHS

rules and regulations regarding human

subjects, patent rights, ethical treatment

of animals, and randomized clinical

trials.

6. Agreement with provisions for

equitable distribution of patent rights to

any inventions developed under the

CRADA(s). Generally, the rights of

ownership are retained by the

organization which is the employer of

the inventor, with an irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty free license to the

Government (when a company

employee(s) is the sole inventor) or an

option to negotiate an exclusive license

to the company on terms that are

appropriate (when the Government

employee(s) are either sole or joint

inventors).

Dated: March 18, 1997.

Barbara M. McGarey,

Deputy Director, Office of Technology

Transfer.

[FR Doc. 97–8120 Filed 3–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR–4200–N–46]

Notice of Proposed Information

Collection for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Community Planning and

Development, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed information collection

for public comment.

SUMMARY: The proposed information

collection requirement for the State

Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG) program will be submitted to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for review, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act. The

Department is soliciting public

comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comment due date: June 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are

invited to submit comments regarding

this proposal. Comments should refer to

the proposal by name and/or OMB

Control Number and should be sent to:

Reports Liaison Officer, Shelia E. Jones,

Department of Housing & Urban

Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room

7230, Washington, DC 20410–7000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Johnson, Acting Director, State

and Small Cities Division, Department

of Housing and Urban Development,

Room 7286, 451 Seventh Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20410–7000. For

telephone communication, contact

Yvette Aidara, State and Small Cities

Division, at 202–708–1322. This is not
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 62 / Tuesday, April 1, 1997 / Notices 15531

a toll-free number. Hearing or speech

impaired individuals may access this

number via TTY by calling the toll-free

Federal Information Relay Service at

1–800–877–8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Department will submit the proposed

information collection to OMB for

review, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35, as amended).

The Notice is soliciting comments

from members of the public and affected

agencies concerning the proposed

collection of information to: (1) evaluate

whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions 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; (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 through the use of

appropriate automated collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology, e.g., permitting electronic

submission of responses.

This Notice also lists the following

information:

Title of Proposal: Community

Development Block Grants: State’s

Program

OMB Control Number: 2506–0085

Description of the need for the

information and proposed used: The

information is needed to assist HUD in

determining whether States are carrying

out the CDBG program in accordance

with the applicable laws. In addition,

States must maintain records at the state

level to facilitate review and audit by

HUD of each state’s administration of its

grant pursuant to section 104(e) of the

statute and section 570.490 of the State

CDBG rule.

Agency form numbers, if applicable:

The Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974, as amended,

requires states that administer the CDBG

program to submit: (1) a Final Statement

that contains the community

development objectives, a method of

distribution, and the certification by the

Governor or a duly authorized state

official (Section 104(a)(1)); (2) an annual

performance and evaluation report

(PER) (Section 104(e)); and such records

as may be necessary to facilitate review

and audit by HUD of the state’s

administration of CDBG funds (Section

104(e)(2)).

Members of affected public: State

Governments participating in the State

administered CDBG program

Estimation of the total numbers of

hours needed to prepare the information

collection including number of

respondents, frequency of response, and

hours of response:

Task Number of respondents Frequency of response (annual)

Estimate of

burden

hours

Total U.S.

burden hours

PER (Performance & Evaluation Report).49 ..................................................... 1 ....................................................... 216 10,584

Recordkeeping:

States ......................................... 49 ..................................................... On-going .......................................... 117 5,733

Localities .................................... 3,500 ................................................ On going .......................................... 26 91,000

Consolidated Plan* ........................... *49 .................................................... (*) ..................................................... (*) (101,950)

Total ....................................... 49 plus ............................................. .......................................................... 7065 107,317

*ConPlan paperwork hours reported with 2506–0117.

Status of the proposed information

collection: Reinstatement, with minor

change, of a previously approved

collection for which approval is near

expiration and request for OMB renewal

for three years. The current OMB

approval expires in April, 1997.

This report does not include 101,950

hours (2039 per respondent) spent on

Consolidated Plan preparation and

reporting. Those hours are reported with

2506–0117.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35,

as amended.

Dated: March 26, 1997.

Jacquie Lawing,

General Deputy, Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–8209 Filed 3–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210–29–M

[Docket No. FR–4200–N–47]

Notice of Proposed Information

Collection for Public Comment;

Community Development Block Grant

Entitlement Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Community Planning and

Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information

collection for public comments.

SUMMARY: The proposed information

collection requirement for the

Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG) entitlement program described

below will be submitted to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for

review, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act. The Department is

soliciting public comments on the

subject proposal.

DATES: Comments due: June 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are

invited to submit comments regarding

this proposal. Comments should refer to

the proposal by name and/or OMB

Control Number and should be sent to:

Reports Liaison Officer, Sheila E. Jones,

Department of Housing and Urban

Development, 451–7th Street, SW,

Room 7230, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deirdre Maguire-Zinni, Director,

Entitlement Communities Division,

(202) 708–1577 (this is not a toll-free

number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Department will submit the proposed

information collection to OMB for

review, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35 as amended).

The Notice is soliciting comments

from members of the public and affected

agencies concerning the proposed

collection of information to: (1) Evaluate

whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions 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; (3) Enhance

the quality, utility, and clarity of the