The NIEHS Sister Study is a
prospective epidemiological study to examine environmental and
familial risk factors for breast cancer and other diseases in a
high-risk cohort of 50,000 sisters of women who have had breast
cancer. Such sisters have at least twice the risk of developing
breast cancer as other women. The frequency of any relevant genes
and shared risk factors will also be higher, increasing the
statistical power of the study to detect risks. Sisters in the
cohort are highly motivated, and response rates and compliance over
time continue to be high. Thus, studying these sisters will enhance
our ability to assess the interplay of genes and environment in
breast cancer risk and to identify potentially preventable risk
factors. The prospective design will allow us to assess exposures
before the onset of disease and avoid biases common to
retrospective studies. The study creates a framework from which to
test new hypotheses as they emerge.
Changes in burden and
annualized cost merely reflect the anticipated progress and the
next scheduled phases of the longitudinal study. With enrollment
now complete, total burden request decreases from 194,131 hours
over 3 years (in 2006 revision) to 72,218 hours over 3 years (for
2009 revision). This does not however represent a change in
Protocol -- merely completion of the Enrollment Phase of the
Protocol, and normal as-planned progression of follow-up.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.