2013-08836. 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 (VA) gives notice under Public Law 92-463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) that the panels of the Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board will meet from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the dates indicated below:

Panel	Date(s)	Location
Surgery	May 22, 2013	Hamilton Crowne Plaza.
Neurobiology—B	May 23, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Mental Health and Behavioral. Sciences—A	May 30, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Gastroenterology	May 30-31, 2013	U.S. Access Board.
Pulmonary Medicine	May 30-31, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Neurobiology—A	May 31, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Cardiovascular Studies	June 3, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Cellular and Molecular Medicine	June 3, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Neurobiology—C	June 4, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Neurobiology—E	June 4, 2013	VA Central Office.*
Endocrinology—B	June 4, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Mental Health and Behavioral. Sciences—B	June 6, 2013	VA Central Office.*
Oncology—A	June 6, 2013	United Way Worldwide.
Oncology—B	June 7, 2013	United Way Worldwide.
Hematology	June 7, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Infectious Diseases—B	June 7, 2013	U.S. Access Board.
Aging and Clinical Geriatrics	June 10, 2013	VA Central Office.*
Endocrinology—A	June 10, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Epidemiology	June 11, 2013	VA Central Office.*
Nephrology	June 11, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Neurobiology—D	June 11, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Immunology—A	June 12, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Infectious Diseases—A	June 12, 2013	Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Clinical Trials	June 13-14, 2013	VA Central Office.*
Clinical Application of Genetics	June 18, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
Eligibility	July 15, 2013	Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.
* Teleconference.
The addresses of the meeting sites are:
Hamilton Crowne Plaza, 14th & K Streets NW., Washington, DC.
Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA.
Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
U.S. Access Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC.
United Way Worldwide, 701 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA.
VA Central Office, 131 M Street NE., Washington, DC.

The purpose of the Board is to provide advice on the scientific quality, budget, safety and mission relevance of investigator-initiated research proposals submitted for VA merit review consideration. Proposals submitted for review by the Board involve a wide range of medical specialties within the general areas of biomedical, behavioral and clinical science research.

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

The closed portion of each meeting involves discussion, examination, reference to staff and consultant critiques of research proposals. During this portion of each meeting, discussions will deal with scientific merit of each proposal and 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 proposals. As provided by subsection 10(d) of Public Law 92-463, as amended, closing portions of these panel meetings is in accordance with title 5 U.S.C., 552b(c) (6) and (9)(B).

Those who plan to attend the general session or would like to obtain a copy of the minutes from the panel meetings and rosters of the members of the panels should contact Alex Chiu, Ph.D., Manager, Merit Review Program (10P9B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, at [phone] or email at [e-mail].

By Direction of the Secretary.

Dated: April 10, 2013.

Vivian Drake,

Committee Management Officer.