[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2307-2308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-293]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Health Services Research and Development Service Scientific 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 Scientific Merit 
Review Board will be held March 7-9, 2006, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel 
(Atlanta-Ravinia), 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta,

[[Page 2308]]

Georgia. Each subcommittee meeting of the Merit Review Board will be 
open to the public the first day convened for approximately one half-
hour from 8 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. to cover administrative matters and to 
discuss the general status of the program. The remaining portion of 
each meeting will be closed. The closed portion of the meeting will 
involve discussion, examination, reference to, and oral review of the 
research proposals and critiques.
    On Tuesday, March 7, 2006, an orientation session will be held from 
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Wednesday, March 8, 2006, five subcommittees will 
convene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.--Implementation and Management Research 
Science, Chronic Disease Management, General Health Services Research, 
Special Populations and the Nursing Research Initiative (NRI). On 
Thursday, March 9, 2006, five subcommittees will convene from 8 a.m. to 
5 p.m.--Implementation and Management Research Science (continuation), 
Special Populations (continuation), General Health Services Research 
(continuation), Chronic Disease Management (continuation) and Equity/
Women's Health review group.
    The purpose of the Board is to review research and development 
applications concerned with the measurement and evaluation of health 
care services, the testing of 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.
    After the subcommittees meet there will be a debriefing provided to 
members of Health Services Research & Development Service Scientific 
Merit Review Board. This debriefing, by teleconference, will be held to 
discuss the outcomes of the review sessions and to ensure the integrity 
and consistency of the review process.
    During the closed 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 plan to attend the open session should contact the 
Scientific Merit Review Program Manager (124R), Health Services 
Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, 1722 
Eye Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20006 at least five days before the 
meeting. For further information, call (202) 205-0207.

    By Direction of the Secretary.

    Dated: January 6, 2006.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-293 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
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