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HHS - 1874 - Vaccine Research Center Board of Scientific Counselors National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Vaccine Research Center Board of Scientific Counselors National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1874
Original Establishment Date	1/3/1994	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	15
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Director, Vaccine Research Center
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	1/3/1994	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Theodore
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Pierson
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PHD
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 451-7977
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	301-451-7978
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282 (b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	piersontc@mail.nih.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/20/1985
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Section 402(b)(9) of the Public Health Service Act states that “the Director, NIH...shall assure that research at...the National Institutes of Health is subject to review in accordance with section 492.” Section 492(b) states that the “Director of NIH shall establish procedures for periodic technical and scientific peer review of research at the National Institutes of Health. The mission of the Board of Scientific Counselors is to assess the quality of the Institute’s intramural research programs and to evaluate the productivity and performance of intramural scientists and shall also, as requested by the Director, NIH, undertake peer review of extramural funding applications as required by section 492 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.” The Board is composed of scientific and technical experts. The Board continues to provide indispensable evaluation and advisory functions in the science management of the intramural research programs. Besides the formal meetings for peer review of each laboratory, the chairman and individual Board members are frequently consulted for advice on staff appointments and program development. The actions of the laboratories reviewed are in keeping with the recommendations of the Board. The Board provides the National Advisory Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council with a review and description of its activities.
How is membership balanced?*	The committee is composed of approximately 15 members who are authorities knowledgeable in the fields of virology, immunology, structural biology, and other related fields in basic and translational research involved in the development of effective vaccines for human disease related to the research activities of the Institute.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The committee meets approximately once within a fiscal year and did not meet during this reporting period.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Board is composed entirely of recognized biomedical and/or behavioral research authorities from outside the NIH in order to secure unbiased and objective evaluation of intramural research programs. Their recommendations are invaluable because the complex nature of research in each laboratory requires a unique balance and breadth of expertise not available on the NIH staff or from other established resources.
Why close or partially close meetings?	No meetings occurred this fiscal year.
Recommendation Remarks	Committee Function: Other - peer review of intramural research laboratories and personnel. Reports: This committee did not produce any public reports. URL: This committee does not have a website. The DFO and Decision Maker are the same person, Director of the Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, because limited resources and the strict confidentiality of the work of this Board make this a necessity. The Charter allows the Committee to have approximately 15 authorized members, including the Chair. Per the Charter there are approximately 15 members appointed by the Director, NIH, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of basic and clinical sciences related to the research activities of the institute. The committee will operate with 8 members and will consider filling the remaining vacancies based upon science and the needs of the committee. The data is preliminary and will be finalized at a later date No chair was appointed in 2024.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	The Scientific Director and other NIH officials use the recommendations made by the BSC in evaluating the quality of the intramural research programs including scientific priorities and resources available. No changes were made to existing laboratory research priorities or resources.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NIH supported basic and clinical research accomplishments often take many years to unfold into new diagnostic tests and new ways to treat and prevent diseases.	Grants Review Comment	Although grant reviews are included in the duties of this Board, there were no grant reviews performed during this fiscal year.
Number Of Recommendations*	47	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Reviews of laboratories in the Vaccine Research Center. The Board did not make any recommendations this fiscal year.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Information on the research funded by NIH is available through the RePORT (Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool) website. RePORT provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities that advance the mission of the NIH, including information on NIH expenditures, strategic plans, reports on NIH funding, and reports on the organization and people involved in NIH research and research training. The RePORT website is located at http://report.nih.gov.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Information on the research funded by NIH is available through the RePORT (Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool) website. RePORT provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities that advance the mission of the NIH, including information on NIH expenditures, strategic plans, reports on NIH funding, and reports on the organization and people involved in NIH research and research training. The RePORT website is located at http://report.nih.gov.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Contact IC Committee Management Officer. 240-669-5201
Agency Feedback Comment*	Information resulting from closed Board of Scientific Counselors meetings is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The public can view information on NIH Intramural Research Reports found on the NIH Intramural Research Sourcebook website located at https://oir.nih.gov/sourcebook/intramural-research-communications-resources/annual-reports-bibliographies/.	Narrative Description*	NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. NIH works toward that mission by conducting research in its own laboratories. The mission of the Board of Scientific Counselors is to assess the quality of the Institute’s intramural research programs and to evaluate the productivity and performance of intramural scientists in accordance with Section 492(b) of the PHS Act, as amended and shall also, as requested by the Director, NIH, undertake peer review of extramural funding applications as required by section 492(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 9:15 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks	The data is preliminary and will be finalized at a later date.

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Health Care Medicine Health and Health Research

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