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HHS - 809 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	809
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/board-scientifi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	8
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	1/25/1991	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	LISA
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	L.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	CUNNINHGAM
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PHD
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 443-2766
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	301-402-7580
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	lisa.cunningham@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 Public Health Service 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. 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 and shall also, as requested by the Director, NIH, undertake peer review of extramural funding applications as required by section 492 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended". 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 Institute laboratories and staff scientists in the areas of basic and clinical research in human communication with a primary interest in hearing and balance. The Board continues to provide indispensable evaluation and advisory functions in the science management of the intramural research programs. In addition to 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.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of eight members, approximately, who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the specialized fields of otolaryngology, molecular biology, neurochemistry, molecular genetics, immunology, cell biology, voice-speech sciences, and the vestibular system. The advisory role of the Board is scientific and substantive. The Board, through periodic visits to the laboratories and consultation with the Scientific Director, assesses the research in progress and evaluates productivity and performance of staff scientists.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board met two times during this reporting period to assess the progress and future direction in the Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). The Board met on 10/21-22/2024 for the peer review of NIDCD intramural laboratories 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 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 were either partially closed or 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: The committee did not produce any public reports during this fiscal year. Membership: Ellen Lumpkin was initially appointed to the Board on October 25, 2021. On July 1, 2022, Ellen Lumpkin was reassigned for a temporary Chair appointment through June 30, 2023. On July 1, 2023, Ellen Lumpkin was reassigned again to continue serving as a member through June 30, 2026. In FY23, Marlan Hanson was assigned as Chair on July 1, 2023 and will continue to serve as Chair until June 30, 2027. Ellen Lumpkin is no longer a member of this committee as of March 24, 2025.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
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. 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*	78	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The number of recommendations is from 2003 forward. The Board made one recommendation 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 Designated Federal Officer.
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*	The mission of the NIDCD Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) is to assess the quality and progress of the Institute’s intramural research programs, the appropriateness of resources assigned to the scientists and their proposed future research, and to evaluate the productivity and performance of staff scientists. Section 402(b)(9) of the Public Health Service 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. 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 and shall also, as requested by the Director, NIH, undertake peer review of extramural funding applications as required by section 492 of the Public Health Act, as amended." Each scientist is reviewed at least every four years. This process is essential to maintain the excellence of science in the intramural program. The reviews of the scientists have been thorough and objective and have played a major role in establishing and maintaining the excellence of the Intramural Research Program.

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 9:47 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

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