[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 30787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10873]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical 
Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review 
Board, Notice of Meeting

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Federal 
Advisory Committee Act that a meeting of the Joint Biomedical 
Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and 
Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board (JBL/CS SMRB) will 
be held Wednesday, June 24, 2020, by teleconference. The meeting will 
begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The meeting will have an 
open session from 3:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. EDT and a closed session 
from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. EDT.
    The purpose of the open session is to meet with the JBL/CS Service 
Directors to discuss the overall policies and process for scientific 
review as well as disseminate information among the Board members 
regarding the VA research priorities.
    The purpose of the closed session is to provide recommendations on 
the scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of 
investigator-initiated research applications submitted for VA merit 
review evaluation. Applications submitted for review include various 
medical specialties within the general areas of biomedical, behavioral 
and clinical science research. The JBL/CS SMRB meeting will be closed 
to the public for the review, discussion, and evaluation of initial and 
renewal research applications, which involve reference to staff and 
consultant critiques of research applications. Discussions will deal 
with scientific merit of each application and qualifications of 
personnel conducting the studies, the disclosure of which would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. 
Additionally, premature disclosure of research information could 
significantly obstruct implementation of proposed agency action 
regarding the research applications. As provided by subsection 10(d) of 
Public Law 92-463, as amended by Public Law 94-409, closing the 
subcommittee meetings is in accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) 
and (9)(B).
    Members of the public who wish to attend the open JBL/CS SMRB 
teleconference should call 1-800-767-1750 using the passcode 50064#. 
Those who would like to obtain a copy of the minutes from the closed 
subcommittee meetings and rosters of the subcommittee members should 
contact Holly Krull, Ph.D., Designated Federal Officer, (10X2B), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, at (202) 632-8522 or email at [email protected].

    Dated: May 15, 2020.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-10873 Filed 5-19-20; 8:45 am]
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