04-24114. Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Meetings

The Department of Veterans Affairs gives notice under the Public Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that the subcommittees of the Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Sciences Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as indicated below

Subcommittee for	Date(s)	Location
Surgery—A	Nov 8, 2004	St. Gregory Hotel.
Endocrinology—A	Nov 8-9, 2004	Governor's House.
Nephrology	Nov 15-16, 2004	Governor's House.
Neurobiology—E	Nov 18, 2004	Topaz Hotel.
Gastroenterology	Nov 18-19, 2004	Hotel Helix.
Cardiovascular Studies—B	Nov 19, 2004	Washington Marriott.
General Medical Science	Nov 19, 2004	Washington Marriott.
Neurobiology—D	Nov 19, 2004	Hotel Washington.
Infectious Diseases—A	Nov 22, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Surgery—B	Nov 22, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Neurobiology—B	Nov 29, 2004	Washington Marriott.
Immunology—A	Nov 30, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Mental Hlth & Behav Sciences—A	Dec 1, 2004	Residence Inn.
Mental Hlth & Behav Sciences—B	Dec 2, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Neurobiology—C	Dec 2-3, 2004	Washington Marriott.
Oncology—B	Dec 2-3, 2004	Hotel Washington.
Clinical Research Program	Dec 3, 2004	Washington Marriott.
Endocrinology—B	Dec 3, 2004	Governor's House.
Cardiovascular Studies—A	Dec 6-7, 2004	St. Gregory Hotel.
Immunology—B	Dec 6-7, 2004	Hotel Rouge.
Neurobiology—A	Dec 9-10, 2004	Holiday Inn Central.
Aging and Clinical Geriatrics	Dec 10, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Oncology—A	Dec 13-14, 2004	Residence Inn.
Respiration	Dec 13-14, 2004	Governor's House.
Hematology	Dec 16, 2004	Hotel Lombardy.
Infectious Diseases—B	Dec 16-17, 2004	Washington Marriott.
The addresses of the hotels are:
Governor's House, 1615 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC;
Holiday Inn Central, 1501 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC;
Hotel Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC;
Hotel Lombardy, 2019 Pensylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC;
Hotel Rouge, 1315—16th Street, NW., Washington, DC;
Hotel Washington, 515—15th Street, NW., Washington, DC;
Residence Inn (Thomas Circle), 1199 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC;
St. Gregory Hotel & Suites, 2033 M Street, NW., Washington, DC;
Topaz Hotel, 1733 N Street, NW., Washington, DC;
Washington Marriott, 1221—22nd Street, NW., Washington, DC.

These subcommittee meetings are for the purpose of evaluating the scientific merit of research conducted in each speciality by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigations working in VA Medical Centers and Clinics.

The subcommittee meetings will be open to the public for approximately one hour at the start of each meeting to discuss the general status of the program. The remaining portion of each subcommittee meeting will be closed to the public for the review, discussion, and evaluation of initial and renewal projects.

The closed portion of the meetings involves discussion, examination, reference to staff and consultant critiques of research protocols. During this portion of the subcommittee meetings, discussion and recommendations will deal with qualifications of 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 could significantly frustrate implementation of proposed agency action regarding such research projects.

As provided by subsection 10(d) of Public Law 92-463, as amended, closing portions of these subcommittee meetings is in accordance with 5 U.S.C., 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B). Those who plan to attend or would like to obtain a copy of minutes of the subcommittee meetings and rosters of the members of the subcommittees should contact LeRoy G. Frey, Ph.D., Chief, Program Review (121F), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, [phone].

Dated: October 14, 2004.

By Direction of the Secretary.

E. Philip Riggin,

Committee Management Officer.