[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33308-33309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15257]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Health Services Research and Development Service, Scientific 
Merit Review Board; Notice of Meetings

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act that the Health Services Research and 
Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board will conduct in-
person and teleconference meetings of its eleven Health Services 
Research (HSR) subcommittees on the dates below from 8:00 a.m. to 
approximately 4:30 p.m. (unless otherwise listed) at the FHI 360 
Conference Center, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 
(unless otherwise listed):
     HSR 0--Community Care on August 21, 2018;
     HSR 1--Health Care and Clinical Management on August 21-
22, 2018;
     HSR 2--Behavioral, Social, and Cultural Determinants of 
Health and Care on August 23-24, 2018;
     HSR 3--Healthcare Informatics on August 23, 2018;
     HSR 4--Mental and Behavioral Health on August 21-22, 2018;
     HSR 5--Health Care System Organization and Delivery on 
August 23-24, 2018;
     HSR 6--Post-acute and Long-term Care on August 22, 2018;
     HSR 7--Opioid and Pain Management Special Emphasis on 
August 24, 2018;
     MRA 0--Mentored Research on August 24, 2018;
     HSR 8--Implementation Research Project on August 23, 2018;
     HS8 A--Randomized Program Evaluations on August 23, 2018; 
and
     HSR 9--Learning Health Initiative on August 23, 2018.
    The purpose of the Board is to review health services research and 
development applications involving: the measurement and evaluation of 
health care services; the testing of new methods of health care 
delivery and management; and mentored research. Applications are 
reviewed for scientific and technical merit, mission relevance, and the 
protection of human and animal subjects. Recommendations regarding 
funding are submitted to the Chief Research and Development Officer.
    Each subcommittee meeting of the Board will be open to the public 
the first day for approximately one half-hour from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 
a.m. at the start of the meeting on August 21 (HSR 0, 1, 4), August 22 
(HSR 1, 4, 6), August 23 (HSR 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, and HS8A), and August 24 
(HSR 2, 5, 7, and MRA 0) to cover administrative matters and to discuss 
the general status of the program. Members of the public who wish to 
attend the open portion of the subcommittee meetings may dial 1 (800) 
767-1750, participant code 10443#.
    The remaining portion of each subcommittee meeting will be closed 
for the discussion, examination, reference to, and oral review of the 
intramural research proposals and critiques. During the closed portion 
of each subcommittee 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 likely 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 the meeting is in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B).

[[Page 33309]]

    No oral or written comments will be accepted from the public for 
either portion of the meetings. Those who plan to participate during 
the open portion of a subcommittee meeting should contact Ms. Liza 
Catucci, Administrative Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, Health 
Services Research and Development Service (10P9H), 810 Vermont Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20420, or by email at [email protected]. For 
further information, please call Ms. Catucci at (202) 443-5797.

    Dated: July 12, 2018.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-15257 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P