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 - 129 - National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	129
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.niams.nih.gov/about/working-groups/...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	23
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Director, Division of Extramural Activities, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	10/31/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Darren
Date Of Renewal Charter	10/31/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Sledjeski
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	Ph.D.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 451-7766
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 284a	Designated Federal Officer Email*	darren.sledjeski@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?*	The committee is composed of both scientific and public members who provide the second level of peer review, advise the Institute on policy development, program implementation and evaluation, and research needs and opportunities of the Institute.
How is membership balanced?*	The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council is composed of not more than 18 appointed members and at least 5 nonvoting ex officio members. The appointed members have research interests and responsibilities paralleling those of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Two-thirds of the appointed members are scientists who are outstanding medical or scientific authorities in the fields of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, including sports-related disorders, and one-third are representatives of the general public with interests in public policy, law, health policy, economics and management as they relate to the Institute's areas of interests. The nonvoting ex officio members will include the Secretary; the Director, NIH; the Director, NIAMS; the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (or their designees); and any additional officers or employees of the United States as the Secretary determines necessary for the Council to effectively carry out its functions.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Advisory Council met three times this fiscal year. The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council provides advice on a continuing basis on the type of scientific research programs that should be supported and on how to carry out the designated mission and responsibilities of the Institute. It also provides ongoing review of the relevance and effectiveness of the existing programs.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council comprises both scientific and public members who provide the second level review for research grant applications; advise on policy development, program implementation and evaluation; and research needs and opportunities of the Institute. The quality, scope, and balance of advice from this Council cannot be obtained from NIH staff or from other established sources because the membership of the Council is constituted to meet the specific requirements of the mandated mission of the Council and of the Institute.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The meetings of the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council were partially closed for the review of grant applications. Sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) of the Government in the Sunshine Act permit the closing of meetings where discussion could reveal confidential trade secrets or commercial property such as patentable material and personal information, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Recommendation Remarks	Committee Function: Other - National Scientific and Advisory. Reports: This committee did not produce any reports during this fiscal year. Miscellaneous: Dr. Lindsey Criswell remained the committee Chairperson. Dr. Darren Sledjeski remains the Designated Federal Officer and Executive Secretary. Four members (Drs. Edward Botchwey, Elizabeth McNally, and Jinoos Yazdany and Ms. Ann Elderkin) were administratively extended for 180 days as permitted by the authorizing statute. Ex Officios: NIH Director, Ex Officio - Dr. Monica Bertagnolli’s position as Director, NIH ended 1/17/2025. Dr. Matthew Memoli was appointed to serve as the Acting Director, NIH from 01/22/2025 until 03/31/2025. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, named Director of the National Institutes of Health, replaced Dr. Memoli as Ex Officio, effective 4/1/2025. HHS Secretary, Ex Officio - Xavier Becerra’s position as the Secretary of Health and Human Services ended 01/20/2025. Dr. Dorothy Fink was appointed to serve as Acting Secretary, HHS from 01/20/2025 until 02/13/2025. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was appointed as Secretary, HHS on 02/13/2025.

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	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	An action of approved or recommended for grants receiving review by this Council does not infer that the grant will be or has been funded. Research grant applications submitted to NIH must go through a two-step review process that includes the initial peer review for scientific and technical merit and a second step of review and approval by a National Advisory Council that includes program relevance. In addition, prior to an award or funding being made, NIH staff must conduct an administrative review for a number of other considerations. These include alignment with NIH's funding principles, review of the project budget, assessment of the applicant's management systems, determination of applicant eligibility, and compliance with public policy requirements. After all these steps have been completed, NIH officials make funding decisions on individual grant applications.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	2,484
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	2,484
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$863,485,974.00
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	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	60,253	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council reviewed 2,484 applications requesting $863,485,974 in total costs in fiscal year 2025.	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. Due to the complexity of the recommendations made by this committee on policy and program areas, staff is unable to determine which recommendations have been fully or partially implemented solely in response to this committee's activities.	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. Due to the complexity of the recommendations made by this committee on policy and program areas, staff is unable to determine which recommendations have been fully or partially implemented solely in response to this committee's activities.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Information is provided to the public at the open session of each Council meeting through reports and the Director’s update. The public can view information related to the Council through the council’s official website.	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; supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training of research investigators; and fostering communication of medical and health sciences information. Section 492 of the Public Health Service Act states that The Secretary....shall by regulation require appropriate technical and scientific peer review of (A) applications ...; and (B) ...biomedical and behavioral research and development contracts... The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council provides second level peer review, makes recommendations for support of grants, contracts proposals, and cooperative agreements; advises on policy development, program implementation and evaluation; and research needs of the Institute.

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 9:46 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Health Care Treatment Medicine Health and Health Research

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