[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 14805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7070]



[[Page 14805]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Request for Nominations for AHRQ Study Section Members

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Request for nominations for public members.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Title IX of the Public Health Service Act, 
the authorizing legislation for AHRQ and its grant and contract 
regulations pertaining to Peer Review of Grant and Contracts 42 CFR 
Part 67, applications submitted to the AHRQ will be evaluated using the 
AHRQ peer review process to ensure a fair, equitable, and unbiased 
evaluation of their scientific and technical merit. The initial peer 
review of grant applications involves an assessment conducted by panels 
of experts established to include pertinent scientific disciplines and 
medical specialty areas. The confidential part of the peer review 
meetings devoted to critical evaluations will be closed meetings in 
accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act as 
amended (5 U.S.C., Appendix 2).
    AHRQ is seeking nominations to fill approximately 20 to 30 percent 
of its study section membership, across the following study sections:
    (1) Health System Research (HSR),
    (2) Health Care Technology and Decision Sciences (HCTDS),
    (3) Health Care Quality and Effectiveness Research (HCQER), and
    (4) Health Care Research Training (HCRT).
    The primary research foci and functions of these four study 
sections are described on the AHRQ Web site (http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/peerrev/peerdesc.htm).
    Individuals from the health services research and health care 
community who could serve as peer reviewers in our study sections are 
sought to replace study section members whose terms have expired. In 
sending your nomination, please specify the nominee's professional/
scientific/technical expertise, affiliations and full contact 
information, if this information is available.
    Factors that will be considered in the selection of individuals to 
serve on study sections include: competence in a scientific, technical 
or clinical discipline or research specialty, particularly in health 
services research, fairness and evenhandedness in judgment and review, 
ability to work effectively in a group context, commitment to complete 
work assignments, adequacy of representations of women, racial and 
ethnic minority populations, and geographic diversity.

DATES: AHRQ would like to receive your recommendations no later than 
Friday, May 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Please direct your correspondence to: Kishena C. Wadhwani, 
PhD., M.P.H., Director, Division of Scientific Review (DSR), Office of 
Extramural Research, Education and Priority Populations (OEREP), Agency 
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS), 540 Gaither Road, Room 2032, Rockville, MD 
20850, Phone: (301) 427-1556, Fax: (301) 427-1562, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Currently, AHRQ has one chartered Health Services Research Initial 
Review Group (IRG) responsible for the peer review of research and 
training grant applications submitted for funding consideration. The 
IRG is to advise the Director of the Agency on matters related to 
scientific and technical merit of research grant proposals to improve 
the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for 
all Americans.
    This IRG is currently comprised of four subcommittees or study 
sections, each with a particular research focus around which peer 
reviewer's expertise is assembled. These study sections convene three 
times per year to review the grant applications submitted to the three 
different submission cycles. Study section members are appointed for up 
to a maximum of four years.

    Dated: March 24, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
AHRQ, Director.
 [FR Doc. E9-7070 Filed 3-31-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P