[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12627-12628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06329]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Biodefense Science Board: Call for Nominees

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response 
(ASPR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and 
Response (ASPR), in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
seeks applications from qualified individuals for membership on the 
National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) or (Board). Terms of five 
members expire December 31, 2019; therefore, the HHS Secretary 
(Secretary) will appoint five new voting members. Applicants to those 
positions may be nominated by a relevant organization or may nominate 
themselves based on their expertise within the following stakeholder 
groups: Industry, academia, health care consumer organizations, and 
organizations representing other appropriate stakeholders. Please visit 
the NBSB website at https://www.phe.gov/nbsb for all application 
submission information, additional information regarding the 
qualifications expected for applicants, and application instructions.

DATES: Nomination Period: The nomination period is from April 15, 2019, 
to June 15, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR Christopher Perdue, MD, MPH, 
Designated Federal Official, NBSB, ASPR, HHS, office: 202-401-5837, 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 319M of the Public 
Health Service Act, HHS has established the NBSB to provide expert 
advice and guidance to the Secretary on scientific, technical, and 
other matters of special interest to HHS regarding current and future 
chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether 
naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. The Board may also 
provide advice and guidance to the Secretary and/or the ASPR on other 
matters related to public health emergency preparedness and response.
    Description of Duties: The Board advises the Secretary and/or ASPR 
on current and future trends, challenges, and opportunities presented 
by advances in biological and life sciences, biotechnology, and genetic 
engineering with respect to threats posed by naturally occurring 
infectious diseases and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 
agents. At the request of the Secretary and/or ASPR, the Board reviews 
and considers information and findings received from the working groups 
established under 42 U.S.C. 247d-7f(b). At the request of the Secretary 
and/or ASPR, the Board provides recommendations and findings for 
expanded, intensified, and coordinated biodefense research and 
development activities. The Secretary and/or ASPR may assign additional 
advisory duties concerning public health emergency preparedness and 
response at his/her discretion.
    Structure: The Board consists of 13 voting members, including the 
chairperson; additionally, there may be non-voting ex officio members. 
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 247d-7f(a), the Secretary appoints members and 
the chairperson from among the nation's preeminent scientific, public 
health, and medical experts, as follows: (a) Such federal officials as 
the Secretary determines are necessary to support the functions of the 
Board; (b) four individuals from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and 
device industries; (c) four individuals representing academia; and, (d) 
five other members as appointed by the Secretary, one of whom is a 
practicing health care professional, one of whom is from an 
organization representing health care consumers, one of whom has 
pediatric subject matter expertise, and

[[Page 12628]]

one of whom is a state, tribal, territorial, or local public health 
official. The Secretary appoints members who are not full-time or 
permanent part-time federal employees as non-pay special government 
employees.

    Dated: March 27, 2019.
Robert P. Kadlec,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
[FR Doc. 2019-06329 Filed 4-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-37-P