[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47251-47252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15464]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Health 
Services Research and Development Scientific Merit Review Board 
Subcommittees

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Health Services 
Research and Development (HSR&D) is committed to having a diverse and 
inclusive membership in its Scientific Merit Review Board (SMRB) 
subcommittees. It is seeking nominations for qualified candidates who 
promote racial and ethnic diversity, as well as sex, geographic, 
religious, disability/mobility, and prior military service diversity in 
membership.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the subcommittees must be received 
by August 31, 2023, no later than 4:00 p.m., eastern standard time. 
Submission of an application does not guarantee selection.

ADDRESSES: All nomination packages should be sent to the HSRD 
Scientific Review mailbox at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In carrying out the duties set forth, the 
Board members and its subcommittees will:
    (1) Conduct scientific merit peer review of applications submitted 
by VA investigators to HSRD for funding consideration,
    (2) Prepare written critiques of scientific and technical merit of 
assigned applications, participate in a panel discussion of 
applications, and score all applications presented to the subcommittees 
to provide group consensus for consideration by the HSRD Director and 
the Principal Investigator.
    Authority: The Board and its subcommittees were established in 
accordance with 38 U.S.C. 545 and operates under the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5. U.S.C. ch. 10. In 
accordance with 38 U.S.C. 545, the Board and subcommittees provide a 
fair and equitable selection of the most meritorious research projects 
for support by VA research funds and to offer advice for research 
program officials on program priorities and policies. The ultimate 
objective of the Board is to ensure the high quality and mission 
relevance of VA's legislatively mandated Health Services Research and 
Development Program.
    Membership Composition: The Board is composed of members having 
training and expertise in a variety of scientific, technical and 
medical disciplines. The Board shall represent the required technical 
skills along with diversity in race/ethnicity, gender, religion, 
disability, geographical background and Veterans of diverse eras and 
branches of service when possible. Members will serve 2 to 4-year 
staggered appointments. A copy of the Committee's most recent charter 
and a list of the current membership can be found at www.va.gov/ADVISORY/.
    The Subcommittee meets at least two times annually. In accordance 
with Federal Travel Regulation, VA will cover travel expenses--to 
include per diem--for all members of the Subcommittee, for any travel 
associated with official Subcommittee duties. Subcommittees may select 
to convene virtually, hybrid, or in-person.
    Non-VA board members also may be authorized to receive a stipend 
for their services. In accordance with recently revised guidance 
regarding the ban on lobbyists serving as members of advisory boards 
and commissions,

[[Page 47252]]

federally registered lobbyists are prohibited from serving on Federal 
advisory committees in an individual capacity. Additional information 
regarding this issue can be found at Federal Register:: Revised 
Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, 
Boards, and Commissions.
    Eligibility for Nomination Submission: Interested individuals must 
be a U.S. citizen and hold an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral 
degree.
    Preferences are for candidates who:
     Promote racial and ethnic diversity, as well as sex, 
geographic, disability/mobility, and prior military service diversity 
in membership.
     Have previous federal research funding resulting in 
professional publications.
    HSRD is looking for individuals with health services related 
expertise in the following areas that correspond with some of our 
Subcommittees:
    (1) Health care and delivery to include medical care; medical/
surgical management; provider preferences and behaviors; provider 
burnout; diagnosis; prognosis; best practices; guidelines; quality and 
safety of healthcare; COVID disruption in patient care; chronic pain 
management; opioid use and management; pharmacology; and 
pharmacotherapeutics.
    (2) Patient preferences, perceptions, and behaviors (including 
engagement and self-management); personal, sociodemographic, rural 
health, and cultural factors affecting health and care (patient/
population/provider/community); complementary, alternative or 
integrative health; rural health, patient decision-making; focused 
patient-centered health care improvements and innovations; whole 
health, patient-provider interactions and communication; populations 
with disparities in health (rural, minorities, LGBTQIA+); and health 
disparities related to COVID disruption in patients care.
    (3) Research in informatics and health information technology (HIT) 
tools and systems to enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of 
VHA care, including impact of new information technology on patient 
experience, clinical analysis of big data to generate new evidence and 
scientific discovery (MVP data; genomics data, phenotypic data; 
emerging health data); development, testing and evaluation of novel and 
innovative digital HIT tools, emerging health data standards, EHR 
Modernization and research methods.
    (4) Research on assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental 
health conditions (such as anxiety, depression, serious mental illness, 
and PTSD) and behavioral health disorders (such as substance use 
disorder and addictive disorders); suicide and suicide ideation; mental 
health--primary care integration (MH-PCI); measurement-based care; 
access to mental health care; and COVID disruption of mental health 
care.
    (5) Research on (1) health systems and (2) women's health. This 
includes research on: organizational models affecting delivery of care 
across systems (different care settings or healthcare systems), best 
practices in implementation of health care interventions and 
improvements, methods to improve the efficiency and quality of care for 
Veterans, system efficiency and redesign, cost efficiencies, resource 
optimization, COVID system wide disruption in care, access to care; 
management and human factors affecting care, and improving care 
delivery across the lifespan for women Veterans.
    (6) Research focused on two broad areas: (1) Rehabilitation and 
functional outcomes, including activity, mobility, and exercise; (2) 
Aging and care settings (e.g., home, long-term care. frailty) as well 
as supportive services, caregiving, palliative, and end-of-life care, 
and COVID disruption in aging patients' care.
    (7) Partnered initiatives/centers focused on addressing VA 
priorities, supporting VHA's transformation to a Learning Health 
System, and moving the needle on quality of care for Veterans by 
leveraging evidence-based implementation, evaluation, and/or quality 
improvement methods and partnering closely with health system leaders, 
managers, and frontline staff to support the uptake of effective 
programs, policies, and practices across VHA.
    Requirements for Nomination Submission: Subcommittee packages must 
be typed (12-point font) and include:
    (1) a cover letter from the nominee summarizing the individual's 
interest in serving on a subcommittee and contributions she/he/they can 
make to the work of the committee; any relevant Veterans service 
activities she/he/they are currently engaged. To promote inclusion and 
demographic balance of membership, please include as much information 
related to your race, national origin, disability status, or any other 
factors that may give you a diverse perspective on Veterans matters;
    (2) a current Curriculum Vitae (CV) that shows all relevant 
professional and/or work experience;
    (3) The nominee's contact information, including name, mailing 
address, telephone numbers, and email address;
    (4) a statement confirming that the nominee is not a federally 
registered lobbyist.
    Packages will be reviewed by scientific review staff and 
individuals selected for appointment to a Subcommittee will be notified 
via email.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
its advisory committees is fairly balanced, in terms of points of view 
represented. Consideration is given to nominees' potential to address 
the Board and subcommittee's scientific needs (see above) and 
demographic needs (regional representation, race/ethnicity 
representation, professional expertise, gender, and Veteran status, 
etc.). In addition, the composition of each Subcommittee may vary based 
on the review cycle to mitigate potential or perceived conflicts of 
interest and ensure the subcommittee's expertise aligns with the 
applications under review.

    Dated: July 17, 2023.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-15464 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
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