Feedback on the NIH Common Fund Glycoscience Program (OD)

OMB Control Number: 0925-0766

Expiration Date: 04/2023

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a current valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to NIH, Project Clearance Branch, 6705 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7974, Bethesda, MD 20892-7974, ATTN: PRA (0925-0648). Do not return the completed form to this address.

OD Glycoscience Interview Guide

Introduction 

My name is ___, and I work for Ripple Effect. We are working with the NIH Office of the Director to conduct an assessment of the NIH Glycoscience Program (GSP). The goal of the program was to create new resources to make the study of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates more accessible to the broader research community outside of the specialized field of glycoscience.

Over the next few weeks, we will be speaking with scientists who specialize in glycoscience, that is, the study of the structure and function of carbohydrates, and scientists who do not consider themselves specialists in that area but who have had some involvement in or exposure to glycoscience, particularly through the use of resources developed by the program. The purpose of this interview is to capture your perception of the outcomes of the NIH Glycoscience Program related to creating new resources (e.g., reagents, technologies, and methods) for the research community. We are specifically interested in your perspective as a [GLYCOSCIENTIST/NON-SPECIALIST]. We know you are very busy, and we appreciate the time you are spending with us to share your expertise. You were selected as a potential interviewee due to your citation and/or use of NIH Glycoscience Program resource(s).  

This interview should take about 45-60 minutes and is voluntary. Your name will not be associated with any responses, however we cannot guarantee your responses will be anonymous, especially if you reference Glycoscience Program researchers. Instead, responses will be aggregated, and summary reports will be generated. Your decision to participate in this interview, your responses, and your comments will not affect your current or future funding. 

With your permission, these interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed to help us with our analysis so we can be sure to capture your answers to each question. When all of the interviews are complete, we will create a summary report of the findings to give to NIH OD leadership to understand the impact of the NIH Glycoscience Program. This is your opportunity to have a voice in that process.  

Do you have any other questions before we get started? Do I have your permission to record the interview? 

Interview Guide

General

1. Please briefly describe your primary field of research and how you became involved in glycoscience research.

   1. How long has glycoscience been relevant to your research?

Awareness of GSP tools and resources

2. Describe your familiarity with the NIH Glycoscience Program.

3. How aware are you of the resources (e.g., reagents, technologies, and methods) developed by the NIH Glycoscience Program?

   1. How did you hear about NIH Glycoscience Program developments, including the resource you [CITED/WERE FUNDED TO ADOPT]?

[Note to interviewer: Ask about dissemination methods not cited by participants: conferences, webinars, peer-reviewed publications, or the GSP website]

4. Describe how you learn about resources from other fields related to your research.

Researcher utilization of GSP tools and resources

5. How have you used the NIH Glycoscience Program resource that you [CITED/WERE FUNDED TO ADOPT]?

   1. How have you used other resources (e.g., reagents, technologies, and methods) produced by the NIH Glycoscience Program, if at all?

6. What value [has this/have these] resource(s) added to your research?

7. What role [has/have] the resource(s) developed by the NIH Glycoscience Program played in you obtaining additional funding?

   1. What role may it play in obtaining future funding?

8. What factors helped or hindered the adoption of NIH Glycoscience Program resources that you have used?

9. Describe how resources from the NIH Glycoscience Program are used in your scientific field.

Contributions and quality of GSP tools and resources

10. Describe your perception of the quality of the resources you have used from the NIH Glycoscience Program related to: [Note to interviewer: Ask each prompt]

    1. Utility

    2. Scientific rigor

    3. Innovation (e.g., allowing something that would have been harder or impossible otherwise)

11. How have the resources developed by the NIH Glycoscience Program contributed to the field of glycoscience? [Note to interviewer: Ask of GLYCOSCIENCE SPECIALISTS ONLY]

Wrap-up question

12. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the NIH Glycoscience Program or anything important we missed?

Conclusion

I want to thank you for participating in the interview today and for sharing your experiences and perceptions. The information you have provided will be very helpful in assessing the NIH Glycoscience Program.