[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 2937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00801]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Public Meeting of the Presidential Commission for the Study of 
Bioethical Issues

AGENCY: Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Health and Human Services,

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues 
(the Commission) will conduct its twentieth meeting on February 5-6, 
2015. At this meeting, the Commission will conclude discussions related 
to the BRAIN Initiative and ongoing work in neuroscience, and begin 
discussions about the ethical considerations and implications of public 
health emergency response with a focus on the current Ebola virus 
disease epidemic.

DATES: The meeting will take place Thursday, February 5, 2015, from 9 
a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m., and Friday, February 6, 2015, from 9 
a.m. to approximately 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1001 14th St. NW., Washington, 
DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hillary Wicai Viers, Communications 
Director, Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, 
1425 New York Avenue NW., Suite C-100, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: 
202-233-3960. Email: [email protected]. Additional 
information may be obtained at www.bioethics.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act of 1972, Public Law 92-463, 5 U.S.C. app. 2, notice is hereby given 
of the twentieth meeting of the Commission. The meeting will be open to 
the public with attendance limited to space available. The meeting will 
also be webcast at www.bioethics.gov.
    Under authority of Executive Order 13521, dated November 24, 2009, 
the President established the Commission. The Commission is an expert 
panel of not more than 13 members who are drawn from the fields of 
bioethics, science, medicine, technology, engineering, law, philosophy, 
theology, or other areas of the humanities or social sciences. The 
Commission advises the President on bioethical issues arising from 
advances in biomedicine and related areas of science and technology. 
The Commission seeks to identify and promote policies and practices 
that ensure scientific research, health care delivery, and 
technological innovation are conducted in a socially and ethically 
responsible manner.
    The main agenda items for the Commission's twentieth meeting are to 
discuss the BRAIN Initiative and ongoing work in neuroscience, and the 
ethical considerations and implications of public health emergency 
response with a focus on the current Ebola virus disease epidemic. The 
draft meeting agenda and other information about the Commission, 
including information about access to the webcast, will be available at 
www.bioethics.gov.
    The Commission welcomes input from anyone wishing to provide public 
comment on any issue before it. Respectful debate of opposing views and 
active participation by citizens in public exchange of ideas enhances 
overall public understanding of the issues at hand and conclusions 
reached by the Commission. The Commission is particularly interested in 
receiving comments and questions during the meeting that are responsive 
to specific sessions. Written comments will be accepted at the 
registration desk and comment forms will be provided to members of the 
public in order to write down questions and comments for the Commission 
as they arise. To accommodate as many individuals as possible, the time 
for each question or comment may be limited. If the number of 
individuals wishing to pose a question or make a comment is greater 
than can reasonably be accommodated during the scheduled meeting, the 
Commission may make a random selection.
    Written comments will also be accepted in advance of the meeting 
and are especially welcome. Please address written comments by email to 
[email protected], or by mail to the following address: Public 
Commentary, Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, 
1425 New York Avenue NW., Suite C-100, Washington, DC 20005. Comments 
will be made publicly available, including any personally identifiable 
or confidential business information that they contain. Trade secrets 
should not be submitted.
    Anyone planning to attend the meeting who needs special assistance, 
such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable 
accommodations, should notify Esther Yoo by telephone at (202) 233-
3960, or email at [email protected] in advance of the meeting. 
The Commission will make every effort to accommodate persons who need 
special assistance.

    Dated: January 5, 2015.
Lisa M. Lee,
Executive Director, Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical 
Issues.
[FR Doc. 2015-00801 Filed 1-20-15; 8:45 am]
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