[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65873-65874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27254]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical 
Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review 
Board; Notice of Meetings--November 2015

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act 5 U.S.C. App. 2 that the subcommittees 
of the Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and 
Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit 
Review Board (JBL/CS SMRB) will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the dates 
indicated below (unless otherwise listed):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Subcommittee                  Date               Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surgery.......................  November 18, 2015  Corporation for
                                                    Enterprise
                                                    Development.
Infectious Diseases-B.........  November 19, 2015  American College of
                                                    Surgeons.
Nephrology....................  November 19, 2015  National Postal
                                                    Museum, Blount
                                                    Center.
Hematology....................  November 20, 2015  VA Central Office.*
Cellular and Molecular          November 23, 2015  VA Central Office.
 Medicine.
Infectious Diseases-A.........  November 23, 2015  US Access Board.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The addresses of the meeting sites are:
American College of Surgeons, 20 F Street NE., Washington, DC.
Corporation for Enterprise Development, 1200 G Street NW., Suite 400,
  Washington, DC.
National Postal Museum, Blount Center, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE.,
  Washington, DC.
US Access Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC.
VA Central Office, 1100 First Street NE., Suite 600, Washington, DC.
* Teleconference.

    The purpose of the subcommittees is to provide advice on the 
scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of 
investigator-initiated research proposals submitted for VA merit review 
evaluation. Proposals submitted for review include diverse medical 
specialties within the general areas of biomedical, behavioral, and 
clinical science research.
    The subcommittee meetings will be closed to the public for the 
review, discussion, and evaluation of initial and renewal research 
proposals. However, the JBL/CS SMRB teleconference meeting will be open 
to the public; date, time and location will be announced later.
    The closed subcommittee meetings involve discussion, examination, 
and reference to staff and consultant critiques of research proposals. 
Discussions will deal with scientific merit of each proposal and 
qualifications of personnel conducting the studies, the disclosure of 
which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal 
privacy. Additionally, premature disclosure of research information 
could significantly frustrate implementation of proposed agency action 
regarding the research

[[Page 65874]]

proposals. As provided by subsection 10(d) of Public Law 92-463, as 
amended by Public Law 94-409, closing the subcommittee meetings is in 
accordance with title 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) (6) and (9)(B).
    Those who would like to obtain a copy of the minutes from the 
closed subcommittee meetings and rosters of the subcommittee members 
should contact Alex Chiu, Ph.D., Manager, Merit Review Program (10P9B), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420, at (202) 443-5672 or email at [email protected].

    Dated: October 22, 2015.
Rebecca Schiller,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-27254 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
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