[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6134]



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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Medical Research Merit Review Committee, Notice of Meetings

    The Department of Veterans Affairs gives notice under the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., of the following meetings to be 
held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as indicated below:

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         Subcommittee for                           Date                                 Location               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Endocrinology.....................  March 18-19, 1996...................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
Neurobiology......................  March 18-20, 1996...................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
Aging and Clinical Geriatrics.....  March 22, 1996......................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Surgery...........................  March 23-24, 1996...................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Hematology........................  March 28-29, 1996...................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence....  March 29, 1996......................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Immunology........................  April 1-2, 1996.....................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Oncology..........................  April 1-2, 1996.....................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Nephrology........................  April 2-3, 1996.....................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Cardiovascular Studies............  April 9-10, 1996....................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
General Medical Science...........  April 12-13, 1996...................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
Gastroenterology..................  April 18-19, 1996...................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Respiration.......................  April 19-20, 1996...................  Renaissance Hotel.                    
Infectious Diseases...............  April 22-23, 1996...................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
Mental Health and Behavioral        April 25-26, 1996...................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
 Sciences.                                                                                                      
Medical Research Service Merit      June 5, 1996........................  Holiday Inn Central.                  
 Committee.                                                                                                     
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Holiday Inn Central, 1501 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005, Renaissance Hotel, 999-9th Street,    
  NW., Washington, DC 20001.                                                                                    

    Because of the extended federal government shutdown during the 
preparation phase of this cycle of Merit Review meetings and consequent 
delay in obtaining the necessary funds to proceed with obtaining 
adequate hotel accommodations for meetings during a time of the year 
when hotel accommodations are very limited, the required 15-day 
notification of meetings could not be met for the first four 
subcommittee meetings listed above.
    These meetings will be for the purpose of evaluating the scientific 
merit of research conducted in each specialty by Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) investigators working in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.
    These meetings will be open to the public up to the seating 
capacity of the rooms at the start of each meeting to discuss the 
general status of the program. All of the Merit Review Subcommittee 
meetings will be closed to the public after approximately one hour from 
the start for the review, discussion, and evaluation of initial and 
renewal projects.
    The closed portion of the meeting involves discussion, examination, 
reference to, and oral review of site visits, staff and consultant 
critiques of research protocols and similar documents. During this 
portion of the meeting, discussion and recommendations will deal with 
qualifications of personnel conducting the studies, the disclosure of 
which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal 
privacy, as well as research information, the premature disclosure of 
which would be likely to significantly frustrate implementation of 
proposed agency action regarding such research projects. As provided by 
subsection 10(d) of Public Law 92-463, as amended by Public Law 94-409, 
closing portions of these meetings is in accordance with 5 U.S.C., 
552b(c)(6) and (9)(B). Because of the limited seating capacity of the 
rooms, those who plan to attend should contact Dr. Leroy Frey, Chief, 
Program Review Division, Medical Research Service, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, (202) 565-5942, at least five days 
prior to each meeting. Minutes of the meetings and rosters of the 
members of the Subcommittees may be obtained from this source.

    Dated: March 7, 1996.

    By Direction of the Secretary.
Heyward Bannister,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-6134 Filed 3-13-96; 8:45 am]
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