FACACLASSIC

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HHS - 801 - Board of Scientific Counselors Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	801
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/advisory/bsc
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*	Scientific Director, NICHD
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	7/1/1986	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Chris
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	McBain
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	Ph.D.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 402-4778
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 480-6480
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mcbainc@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?*	This Board assesses the quality of the Institute's intramural research programs and evaluates the productivity and performance of staff scientists, necessary functions for the operation of a highly effective intramural research program. The Board is composed of scientific and technical experts. The Board of Scientific Counselors, NICHD, continues to provide indispensable evaluation and advisory functions with the respect to basic and clinical child health and human growth and research development. The Board holds two meetings each year for peer review of selected laboratories, and the chairman and individual Board members are frequently consulted for advice on staff appointments and program development. The Board is provided a written description of the overall research to be reviewed which presents the past accomplishments, objectives, and projected directions of the laboratory and its recommendations to the Scientific Director of the Institute. The Board provides a description of its activities to the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council for review. In FY25, two site visits were held: one in December 4-5, 2024 and the other in June 4-5, 2025. During the December 2024 meeting, the Board reviewed the following laboratories: Section on Growth and Development; Section on Cellular Differentiation; Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Training Program; Section on Developmental Genetics; Section on Molecular Dysmorphology; Unit on Vascular Malformations; Section on Cellular Signaling; Unit on Hypothalamic and Pituitary Disorders; Section on Growth and Obesity. The Board reviewed 6 Senior Investigators, one Senior Clinician, one Assistant Clinical Investigator, and one Tenure-Track Investigator. During the June 4-5, 2025, meeting, the Board reviewed the following laboratories: Section on Behavioral Neurogenetics; Section on Neural Developmental Dynamics; Section on Chromatin and Gene Expression; Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology; Section on Mammalian Development and Evolution; Section on Molecular Genetics of Immunity; Unit on Genome Structure and Regulation; Unit on Developmental Signaling; Unit on Chromosome Dynamics; Section on Vertebrate Organogenesis. The Board reviewed seven Senior Investigators, and three Tenure-Track Investigator. The Board provides a description of its activities to the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of approximately 14 members who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the specialized fields of developmental neurobiology, developmental pharmacology, pharmacogenetics, social and behavioral science, pregnancy research, reproductive endocrinology, molecular genetics, developmental endocrinology, human genetics, theoretical and physical biology, neurochemistry, neuroimmunology, reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology and statistics, maternal-fetal medicine, including neonatology and perinatal pathology, clinical science, psychology, and developmental and molecular biology. The advisory role of the Board is scientific and substantive. The Board, through periodic visits to the laboratories, assesses the intramural research in progress and evaluates productivity and performance of principal investigators.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board met a total of two times during this reporting period: 12/6/2024 and 6/6/2025. Members also participated in two BSC site visits: 12/4/2024 -12/5/2024 and 6/4/2025- 6/5/2025 during this reporting period. The Chair participated (virtually) in an additional NIH-wide BSC Chairs meeting on 5/9/2025.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	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 laboratories and principal investigators in the following areas: Aquatic Models of Human Development; Bone & Matrix Biology in Development & Disease; Cell & Structural Biology; Cell Regulation & Development; Developmental Endocrinology, Metabolism, Genetics, & Endocrine Oncology; Genetics & Epigenetics of Development; Genomics & Basic Mechanisms of Growth & Development; Molecular Medicine; Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Translational Imaging; Neurosciences; Physical Biology& Medicine; Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health; Population Health Research.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The meetings of the Board 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 discussions could reveal personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Recommendation Remarks	Current Members: The appointment end dates for Carlos Bacino and Yukiko Yamashita and were updated. The appointment end date for Emily Oken was updated, as her appointment ended as a member and is pending approval for her position as Chair. Reappointed Members: Ursula Kaiser and Errol Norwitz were readded to the report due to being reappointed. Missing degrees for various members were readded. Committee Function: Other – Scientific and Technical Peer Review. The Designated Federal Officer and Committee Decision Maker positions are held by the same individual based on assigned duties within the IC.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	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	Yes
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 Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) in evaluating the quality of the intramural research programs including scientific priorities and resources available. The BSC uses an external peer review committee that evaluates Division of Intramural Research scientists on the basis of accomplishments. The BSC review evaluates an individual research program’s long-term objectives and accomplishments. The review includes an evaluation of both the Laboratory and Branch leadership, and the research performed by independent investigators. If warranted, the review will recommend the reorganization of priorities and reallocation of resources. Due to the highly confidential nature of these recommendations, they are not divulged to the public.
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*	820	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Board members participated in two NICHD Intramural Research Laboratory Site Visits (December 4-5, 2024, and June 4, 2025 - June 5, 2025). Nineteen laboratories, thirteen Senior Investigators, four Tenure-Track Investigator, one assistant clinical investigator, and the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Training Program, were reviewed. A total of 142 recommendations were made for FY24 regarding the scientific review of the laboratories. The results of these site visits are highly confidential in that they address the productivity of the laboratory and principal investigators. In FY25 the Board made 206 recommendations regarding the scientific review of each laboratory. On a continuing basis, the Board provides advice on issues concerning program planning, policy formulation, and resource allocation to the Institute's intramural laboratories and branches.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	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	IC CMO: Devon Drew, NIDDK Committee Management Officer; contact information: devon.drew@nih.gov
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 Research and Development

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