[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28919-28920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4643]


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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 August 28-30, 2006 at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel, 101 
Harborside Drive, Boston, MA. Various subcommittees of the Board will 
meet during that period.
    Each subcommittee meeting of the Merit Review Board will be open to 
the public the first day 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 Monday, August 28, 2006, an orientation session will be held 
from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Tuesday, August 29, 2006, five subcommittees 
will convene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.--Implementation and Management 
Research Science, Chronic Disease Management & Long Term Aging, General 
Health Services Research, Special Populations and the Nursing Research 
Initiative (NRI). On Wednesday, August 30, 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 Board is to review research and development 
applications concerned with the measurement and evaluation of health 
care services, the

[[Page 28920]]

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 Merit Review 
Board. This debriefing, by teleconference, will be 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) 254-0207.

    By Direction of the Secretary.

    Dated: May 9, 2006.
E. Philip Riggin,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-4643 Filed 5-17-06; 8:45am]
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