[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2908]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Health Services Research and Development Service Merit Review 
Board; Notice of Meeting

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Public 
Law 92-463, Federal Advisory Committee Act, that a meeting of the 
Health Services Research and Development Service Merit Review Board 
will be held March 15-17, 2005, at the Crowne Plaza River Walk Hotel, 
111 Pecan Street East, San Antonio, TX 78205. On March 15, 2005, the 
Nursing Research Initiative (NRI), Chronic Diseases, and Equity review 
subcommittees will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the general orientation 
session for all reviewers will be conducted from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On 
March 16 and 17, 2005, the Implementation and Management, Quality 
Measurement and Effectiveness, Research Methodology, and Special 
Populations subcommittees will convene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
    The purpose of the Board is to review research and development 
applications concerned with the measurement and evaluation of health 
care services and with testing new methods of health care delivery and 
management, and nursing research. Applications are reviewed for 
scientific and technical merit. Recommendations regarding funding are 
prepared for the Chief Research and Development Officer.
    On March 15, the meeting will be open to the public for 
approximately one half-hour from 7 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. to cover 
administrative matters and to discuss the general status of the 
program. The remaining portion of the meeting on March 15-17 will be 
closed. The closed portion of the meeting involves discussion, 
examination, reference to, and oral review of staff and consultant 
critiques of research protocols and similar documents.
    During this portion of the meeting, discussion and recommendations 
will include qualifications of the 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 compromise 
significantly the 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).
    Those who plant to attend the open session should contact the 
Assistant Director, Scientific Review (124S), Health Services Research 
and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1722 Eye 
Street, NW., Washington, DC, at least five days before the meeting. For 
further information, call (202) 254-0207.

    Dated: January 25, 2005.

    By Direction of the Secretary.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2908 Filed 2-14-05; 8:45 am]
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