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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 - 810 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute on Drug Abuse - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute on Drug Abuse	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	810
Original Establishment Date	8/27/1980	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://irp.drugabuse.gov/organization/board-of...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	14
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Management Analyst, IRP, NIDA
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	10/31/2005	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Megan
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	E.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Bollinger
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(667) 312-5035
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(443) 740-2865
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	megan.bollinger@nih.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/27/1980
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 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 senior scientists respect to basic, preclinical and clinical research on mechanisms that underlie substance use disorders, addiction, and relapse. During this reporting period the Board evaluated the productivity and performance of scientists of the Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch (Neuronal Networks Section, Cellular Stress and Inflammation Section, Cellular Pathobiology Section, and Neurobiology of Addiction Section), Designer Drug Research Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch (Medicinal Chemistry Section; Integrative Neurobiology Section; Drug Design and Synthesis Section; and Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Section), Technology and Translational Research Unit, Cognitive and Pharmacological Neuroimaging Unit, and Learning and Decision-Making Unit.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of 14 members, approximately, including the Chair, appointed by the Director, NIH, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of basic preclinical and clinical research on mechanisms that underlie substance use disorders, addiction, and relapse. 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 senior scientists.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board met twice during this reporting period on October 22, 2024, and May 6, 2025. The Board holds approximately two meetings each year for the peer review of intramural laboratories on a rotating basis as required by the PHS Act. The Board evaluated the productivity and performance of scientists of the Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch (Neuronal Networks Section, Cellular Stress and Inflammation Section, Cellular Pathobiology Section, and Neurobiology of Addiction Section), Designer Drug Research Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch (Medicinal Chemistry Section; Integrative Neurobiology Section; Drug Design and Synthesis Section; and Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Section), Technology and Translational Research Unit, Cognitive and Pharmacological Neuroimaging Unit, and Learning and Decision-Making Unit.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This committee is composed 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?	The meetings of the Board of Scientific Counselors, NIDA, were closed for the review, discussion, and evaluation of individual programs and projects conducted by the 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 - Scientific and Technical Peer Review. Reports: Board of Scientific Counselors, NIDA did not produce a report this fiscal year. Members Rotating Off/On-Boarding: Three members (Dr. Michael A. Nader, Dr. Dorit Ron, Dr. Katie A. Witkiewitz) and one chair (Dr. John R. Mantsch) rotated off and four members were on-boarded (Dr. Kathryn A. Cunningham, Dr. Sara R. Jones, Dr. Hedy Kober, and Dr. Nandakumar Narayanan). As such, as the Charter states 14 potential members, this ACR lists 18. Members: One member has been reassigned as a chair for the remainder of his term (Dr. Rodrigo A. Espana). Three members have been terminated (Dr. Stephanie L. Borgland, Dr. Michael J. Frank, and Dr. Laura E. O'Dell). As such, their terms of service end dates are different than what was reported on the FY24 ACR. The Committee Decision Maker and the Designated Federal Officer are filled by the same individual based on assigned duties within the IC.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	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	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 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	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*	237	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Committee makes recommendations based on the strengths and weaknesses of each scientist’s research program, including space and resource allocations, and reviews the scientist’s mentoring record. The Board made 41 recommendations this fiscal year.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% 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 the National Institute on Drug Abuse Committee Management Office.
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 9:30 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Health Care Medicine Health and Health Research Research Basic Research

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports