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 - 806 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	806
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.ninds.nih.gov/About-NINDS/Who-We-Ar...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	10
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Scientific Director, NINDS
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	6/1/1986	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jeffrey
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	S.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Diamond
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PhD
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 435-1896
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 435-1895
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	jeffrey.diamond@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 PHS 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. This Board assesses the quality of the Institute intramural research programs and evaluates the productivity and performance of principal investigators, necessary functions for the operation of a highly effective intramural research program. 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. During this reporting period the Board reviewed the Computational Structural Biology Section; Molecular Neurophysiology Section; Neurophysiology of Epilepsy Unit; Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Section; Cell Biology and Biophysics Section; Neurosurgical Oncology Unit; Circuits, Synapses, and Molecular Signaling Section; Genetics of Neuronal Signaling Section; Neocortex-cerebellum Circuitry Unit; Inherited Neurodegenerative Diseases Section; Advanced MRI Section; Human Cortical Physiology and Neurorehabilitation Section; along with an update on the status of the 11.7T Human MRI and 17T Animal MRI magnets and the activities within the MRI Engineering Core. The actions of the Laboratories and Units are in keeping with the recommendations of the Board. 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 Board provides a description of its activities for review by the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consisted of approximately eight to ten members who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the specialized fields of with respect to basic, translational, and clinical research in neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery. The Board provides a thorough review and assessment of the research in progress in the laboratories, productivity and performance of scientific staff, and future research directions.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board met three times during this reporting period. The Board holds approximately three to four meetings each year for the peer review of intramural laboratories on a rotating basis as required by the PHS Act.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This Board 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 of breadth of expertise not available on the NIH staff or from other established sources.
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 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 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. Reports: This committee did not produce any public reports during the fiscal year. Members: Drs. S. Pulst and Y. Zou term ended early. Meetings: The charter states that the NSBSC will meet three times per year. In FY 2025, the NSBSC met three times as scheduled.

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 programs including scientific priorities and resources available. The review encompasses an evaluation of the investigator's research program and future plans, overall resources and resource requests, as well as the mentorship provided to trainees. Advancement to Tenure-track and Tenure positions also requires the endorsement of the BSC. If warranted, the review will recommend the reorganization of priorities and reallocation of resources. Due to the highly confidential nature of these recommendations, the information is not divulged to the general 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*	316	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	All the Laboratories/Branches reviewed in this year were either continued, expanded, reduced or closed. The Board made 25 recommendations thus far in the fiscal year. Of note, recommendations from the most recent review scheduled in May 2025 are still pending.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	98.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The percentage of recommendations implemented stated above was developed at the time the Annual Comprehensive Review report was. Additional information on grant funding 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	Information on the NINDS Board of Scientific Counselors may be obtained from Caren Collins, Supervisory Program Analyst, NINDS Intramural Research Program at 301-402-6285 or via e-mail at collinsca@nih.gov or Rachael Schacherer, Chief of Staff, OSD, NINDS Intramural Research Program at 301-594-0094 or via e-mail at Rachael.schacherer@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*	$9,800.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
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*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
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	$18,036.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$27,836.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	6/11/2025 2:28 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.00	Est Cost Remarks	Budget data is preliminary and will be finalized at a later date.
Cost Remarks	Budget 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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