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 - 805 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute of Mental Health - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute of Mental Health	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	805
Original Establishment Date	8/27/1987	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	http://www.nimh.nih.gov/labs-at-nimh/scientific...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	12
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Scientific Advisor
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	1/13/1987	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jennifer
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	E
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Mehren
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PHD
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 451-3810
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 480-8348
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 USC 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mehrenj@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?*	In FY2024 the Board reviewed several laboratories/branches, sections/units, cores, and investigators in the NIMH intramural program. At the January-February 2024 BSC Review Meeting, the Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Section on Psychosis and Cognitive Studies, Unit on Functional Neural Circuits (Tenure Review), Functional MRI Core, Machine Learning Team, Data Science and Sharing Team and the Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Core were reviewed. At the June 2024 BSC Review Meeting, the Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource, the Unit on Neurons, Circuits and Behavior (Tenure Review), Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit, Neurophysiology Imaging Core and the Scientific and Statistical Computing Core were reviewed. At the September 2024 BSC Review Meeting, the Unit on Neuroscience and Novel Therapeutics (Tenure Review), Section on Neural Function, Section on Critical Brain Dynamics, Section on Neuroplasticity, Rodent Behavior Core, Section on Behavioral Neuroscience, and Senior Investigator Dr. Charles Gerfen were reviewed. The Board continues to provide evaluation and advice for the management of the research efforts of the intramural program. The Board provides to the National Advisory Mental Health Council for review a description of its activities annually.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of approximately twelve members who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the basic and clinical medical sciences related to the research activities of the Institute. 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 intramural scientists.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board holds approximately three meetings each year for the peer review of intramural laboratories on a rotating basis as required by the PHS Act. During this reporting period, the full Board met three times on the following dates 1/31-2/2/2024, 6/5-7/2024, and 9/24-26/2024. The Chair of the BSC participated in two other activities as part of his duties on 1/30/2024 and 5/10/2024.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The 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 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, National Institute of Mental Health, 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. Dr. Jennifer Mehren is both the DFO and the Committee Decision Maker for the BSC based on the assignment of responsibilities within this Institute. Reports: This committee did not produce any reports during the fiscal year. Dr. Groh was reassigned to Chair and her term was extended a year.

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	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	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. As a result, the following decisions were made: The BSC made recommendations related to the specific research priorities of reviewed laboratories and core facilities, as needed. Additionally, the BSC recommended changes in resources within reviewed laboratories and core facilities, as needed.
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*	0	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	It is not possible to assign a number for the recommendations made by the Board. They review the research and the scientists and make numerous recommendations. 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 Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	NA	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment
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. Board reviews the research of each of the NIMH Laboratories and Branches as well as the independent Sections every 4 years or sooner where appropriate.

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 9:41 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

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

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports