[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4194-4195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00888]


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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, Amended Notice of Meeting

    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.2, that a meeting of the Joint 
Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science 
Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board (JBL/CS 
SMRB) will be held Thursday, January 21, 2021, via WebEx. The meeting 
will begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. Eastern daylight time. The 
meeting will have an open session from 3:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. and a 
closed session from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
    The purpose of the open session is to meet with the JBL/CS Service 
Directors to discuss the overall policies and process for scientific 
review, as well as disseminate information among the Board members 
regarding the VA research priorities.
    The purpose of the closed session is to provide recommendations on 
the scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of 
investigator-initiated research applications submitted for VA merit 
review evaluation. Applications submitted for review include various 
medical specialties within the general areas of biomedical, behavioral 
and clinical science research. The JBL/CS SMRB meeting will be closed 
to the public for

[[Page 4195]]

the review, discussion, and evaluation of initial and renewal research 
applications, which involve reference to staff and consultant critiques 
of research applications. Discussions will deal with scientific merit 
of each application 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 obstruct implementation of 
proposed agency action regarding the research applications. 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).
    Members of the public who wish to attend the open JBL/CS SMRB 
meeting should join via WebEx at: Meeting number (access code) 199 877 
4715, meeting password: 5WDkEZaG?48. https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/webappng/sites/veteransaffairs/meeting/download/28f6da1fcb6a4eb9b65f249b841ff391?siteurl=veteransaffairs&MTID=md9552f12d41ecc3645d2e9a6258fdd61. Those who would like to obtain a copy of the 
minutes from the closed subcommittee meetings and rosters of the 
subcommittee members should contact Pauline Cilladi-Rehrer, MSBA, 
Designated Federal Officer, (14RD), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, at 202-443-5607 or at 
[email protected].

    Dated: January 12, 2021.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-00888 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
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