Invitation to Participate

Attachment 8: Invitation Letters To…

Technology End Users Interview Protocols

To Dr. _________,

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), of the National Institutes of Health, cordially invites you to participate in a survey regarding its long-standing Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program. The IMAT program was launched in 1998 to support the development of highly innovative technologies to advance cancer research and clinical care capabilities. NCI is proposing to pursue a comprehensive and robust evaluation to assess the process and outcomes of the IMAT program, and also seek opportunities for NCI to improve the program’s utility for the broad continuum of cancer researchers, clinicians and ultimately patients.

You have been specifically selected as a member of the research community having experience using emerging technology(s) that received support from the IMAT program. The NCI is engaged in a comprehensive assessment of the utility and impact of the IMAT program, and as such is hoping to understand your experience with this technology and your views regarding its general impact on cancer research and/or clinical care.

We will be contacting you shortly to schedule a convenient time to participate in this survey. Please don’t hesitate to contact ___________ with any questions or concerns regarding this evaluation effort, or Dr. Tony Dickherber (dickherberaj@mail.nih.gov; (301) 547-9980) regarding information about the IMAT program.

Kind regards,

[Evaluation team representative signature]

IMAT Awardees and Other NIH Awardees (Comparison Group)

To Dr. _________,

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), of the National Institutes of Health, cordially invites you to participate in a survey regarding support for technology development research. This survey is part of an evaluation of the NCI’s long-standing Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program. The IMAT program supports the development of highly innovative technologies to advance cancer research and clinical care capabilities. The evaluation is to assess the management and impact of the IMAT program, and also seek opportunities for NCI to improve the program’s utility for the broad continuum of cancer researchers, clinicians and ultimately patients.

We will be using a web-based survey instrument through which to collect your views. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you are willing to participate in this survey [link to web survey to be provided here]. Please don’t hesitate to contact ___________ with any questions or concerns regarding this evaluation effort, or Dr. Tony Dickherber (dickherberaj@mail.nih.gov; (301) 547-9980) regarding information about the IMAT program.

Kind regards,

[Evaluation team representative signature]

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