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Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

HHS - 799 - Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	799
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/advisory-and-pe...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	11
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Scientific Director, Division of Intramural Research
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	4/26/1991	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	William
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	Richard
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Childs
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	M.D.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 827-1396
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 480-2664
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	childsr@nhlbi.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?*	The BSC scientific review process is largely a retrospective review that focuses on the investigator’s scientific accomplishments over the last four years. Additional emphasis is placed on the overall research program for its distinctive quality, impact, long-term objectives, originality of thought as well as the current and future applications of innovative scientific approaches. The 2025 BSC Virtual Site Visit Review took place on Monday, April 28 and Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The Board assessed program developments, accomplishments, future plans and recommendations from previous reviews and provided a written report of the evaluation. Final recommendations were made to the Scientific Director at the BSC Meeting that took place on June 9, 2025. For the 2025 scientific review, the Board reviewed a total of 18 Principal Investigators from the following branches and centers: Biochemistry and Biophysics Center (9 Senior Investigators, 1 Tenure Track Investigator), Cardiovascular Branch (2 Senior Investigators), Cell and Developmental Biology Center (1 Tenure Track Investigator), Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch (1 Tenure Track Investigator), Epidemiology and Community Health Branch (1 Senior Investigator and 1 Tenure Track Investigator), Translational Vascular Biology Branch (1 Senior Investigator) and National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (1 Tenure Track Investigator). Each investigator gave a 30-minute oral presentation followed by a rigorous 20-minute question and answer session.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of members who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the specialized fields of basic science and clinical medicine related to research activities in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The advisory role of the Board is scientific and substantive. The Board, through periodic visits to the laboratories, assesses the research in progress and evaluates productivity and performance of staff scientists.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board holds one Site Visit meeting and one BSC meeting per year. These typically take place in April and June, respectively. The Site Visit meeting is a retrospective scientific review of an investigator’s research program and takes place in the spring of each review cycle. Teams of external ad hoc reviewers provide their expertise and consult with the Board members for each investigator under review. During the June meeting, emphasis is focused on results of the prior review, future scientific review processes and recommendations for current research programs.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Board of Scientific Counselors is composed of acclaimed biomedical research authorities from outside the NIH. Their recommendations are invaluable because they are considered unbiased, fair and objective. The NHLBI Scientific Director relies on their scores and recommendations to guide resource allocation decisions in NHLBI’s intramural research programs.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The meeting of the Board was closed for the review, discussion, and evaluation of individual programs and projects conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, including consideration of personnel qualifications and performance, the competence of individual investigators, and similar items, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Section 552b(c)(6) of the Government in the Sunshine Act permits the closing of meetings where discussion could reveal personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Recommendation Remarks	Committee Function: Other - Peer review of intramural research laboratories and personnel. Members: Chair: Dr. Jodi Nunnari rotated off as Chair on 06/30/2025. Drs. Bruce Levy, Thomas Malek, Jean Schwarzbauer, and Edwin Silverman rotated off on 06/30/2025. Dr. Alexis Thompson 's term was terminated on 03/21/2025. Reports: This committee did not produce any public reports. The DFO and the Committee Decision Maker positions are held by the same individual based on assigned duties within the Institute.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
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	No
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 priorities and resources available.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	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*	298	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	18	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Additional information 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	Additional information 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 the Designated Federal Officer.
Agency Feedback Comment*	Information resulting from closed Board of Scientific Counselor 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 the 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 9:16 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Health Care Treatment Medicine Health and Health Research

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