[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 75024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31815]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Medical Research Service Merit Review Committee, Notice of 
Meetings

    The Department of Veterans Affairs gives notice under the Public 
Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that the Medical Research 
Service Merit Review Committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 
January 13, 2004, at the Governor's House Hotel, 1615 Rhode Island 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
    The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the Under 
Secretary for Health on the review of the scientific merit of research 
conducted in each specialty by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
investigators working in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.
    The meeting will be open to the public for approximately one hour 
at the start to discuss the general status of the program. The 
remaining portion of the meeting will be closed to the public for 
discussion and evaluation of the scientific review 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 the 
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 could significantly frustrate implementation of proposed agency 
action regarding such research projects.
    As provided by subsection 10(d) of Public Law 92-463, as amended, 
closing a portion of the meeting is in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552b(c)(b) and (9)(B). Those who plan to attend or would like to obtain 
a copy of minutes of the meeting should contact LeRoy G. Frey, Ph.D., 
Chief, Program Review Division, Medical Research Service (121F), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, (202) 254-0288.

    Dated: December 19, 2003.

    By Direction of the Secretary.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-31815 Filed 12-24-03; 8:45 am]
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