FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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 - 86 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Cancer Institute - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Cancer Institute	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	86
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/advisory/bsc/index.htm
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	55
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Chief, Institute Review Office, NCI
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	9/30/1994	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Mehrdad
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	M.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Tondravi
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	Ph.D.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(240) 276-5660
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(240) 276-7912
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 284(c)(3)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	tondravim@mail.nih.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/4/1988
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?*	This committee is composed of recognized biomedical and/or behavioral research authorities who represent the forefront of research and technical knowledge and who provide evaluation and peer review of Institute laboratories and staff scientists in the Center for Cancer Research and the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of up to 55 members, including Co-Chairs, appointed by the Director, NCI, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of laboratory, clinical and biometric research; clinical cancer treatment; cancer etiology; cancer prevention and control with emphasis on training and experience in the various disciplines and fields related to scientific areas relevant to carcinogenesis; cancer biology and diagnosis; cancer center administration; medicine; radiological and surgical oncology; chemotherapy; cancer epidemiology, genetics, genomics, and related areas; cancer education; cancer information services; community outreach; biological, chemical and physical carcinogenesis; DNA repair; tumor biology and immunology; humoral and cellular immunity; hematopoiesis; cell differentiation and transformation; oncogenes and growth factors; molecular and structural biology; genetic regulation; cell signaling; viral oncology; vaccine development; transplantation; clinical trial design, management and evaluation; pharmacology; drug development and developmental therapeutics; proteomics; genetic and immunotherapies; pathology; diagnostic research and cytogenetics; biological response modifiers; imaging; nutrition; survey research; epidemiology; biostatistics; statistics; rehabilitation; psychology and behavioral medicine; public health and community oncology; quality of life; pain management; cancer detection and diagnosis; cancer treatment and restorative care; dentistry; nursing; public health; education of health professionals; medical oncology; surgery; radiotherapy; gynecologic oncology; and pediatric oncology.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board meets approximately three times each fiscal year. The Board met on November 4, 2024, and July 7-8, 2025 for the overall program review of all Laboratories and Branches. Special site visit teams met 7 times to review and evaluate the program of individual laboratories and branches and advise on budget, staffing, and program strengths and weaknesses. Site Visit Dates: 10/7-9/2024, 10/16-18/2024, 10/30 - 11/1/2024, 11/19-20/2024, 11/20/2024, 3/3/2025, and 3/17-18/2025. *Updated 4/22/2025
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Board is composed of recognized biomedical and behavioral research authorities from outside the NIH in order to secure unbiased and objective evaluations 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 at NIH or from other established sources. This advice is essential for effective management of this Institute's intramural research programs.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The meetings of this Board were either closed or partially closed to the public for the review, discussion, and evaluation of individual programs and projects conducted by the Divisions 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 discussions could reveal personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Recommendation Remarks	Committee Function: Other - Scientific and Technical Peer Review. Reports: This committee did not produce any public reports. Members Rotating Off/On-Boarding: Five members rotated-off (William M. Clemons, Daphne A. Haas-Kogan, Barbara L. Kee, Alpa V. Patel, and Lewis R. Roberts) and XX were on-boarded. This is why the Charter states 55 potential members, but this ACR lists 26. *Updated as of 04/22/2025 Members: The terms for Blossom A. Damania, Welkin E. Johnson, David R. Jones, and Tanya T. Paull have changed due to administrative extensions. As such, their terms of service end dates are different than what was reported on the FY24 ACR. William M. Clemons left the committee on 3/21/2025. As such, his term of service end date is different than what was reported on the FY24 ACR. The terms for William M. Clemons, Olivier Elemento, Daphne A. Haas-Kogan, Barbara L. Kee, Linda M. Liau, Alpa V. Patel, Lewis R. Roberts, and E. John Wherry have changed due to termination. As such, their terms of service end dates are different than what was reported on the FY24 ACR. *Updated as of 04/22/2025 The DFO and Committee Decision Maker positions are held by the same individual because of the assignment of responsibilities 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/NCI officials use the recommendations made by the BSC in evaluating the quality of the intramural research programs including scientific priorities and resources available. As a result, all the Laboratories/Branches reviewed in this fiscal year were either continued, expanded or closed.
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*	709	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	All the Laboratories/Branches reviewed in this fiscal year were either continued, expanded or closed. Continued means that there is not a change in scientific priorities or a decrease in the resources allocated to the laboratory/branch. Expanded means that the scientific priorities may be/are increased and thus an increase in resources are allocated to the laboratory/branch. Closed means that the scientific priorities are ended and the resources allocated to the laboratory/branch are decreased, i.e., towards closing the laboratory/branch.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	90.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The percentage of recommendations implemented as stated above was developed at the time the Annual Comprehensive Review report was prepared. 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*	10.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The percentage of recommendations implemented as stated above was developed at the time the Annual Comprehensive Review report was prepared. 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 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*	$17,600.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$17,600.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$28,200.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$28,200.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$728.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$728.00
11. Total Costs	$46,528.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$46,528.00
Date Cost Last Modified	4/23/2025 12:52 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.00	Est Cost Remarks	The data is preliminary and will be finalized at a later date.
Cost Remarks	The data is preliminary and will be finalized at a later date.

Interest Areas

Category Area Medicine Diseases Health and Health Research

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