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 - 811 - Board of Scientific Counselors, National Library of Medicine - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Board of Scientific Counselors, National Library of Medicine	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	811
Original Establishment Date	11/20/1985	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/board-of-scien...
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*	DEPUTY SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, NLM
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	1/18/1991	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	DAVID
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	LANDSMAN
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix	PH.D.
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(301) 435-5981
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(301) 451-5570
Specific Establishment Authority*	42 U.S.C. 282(b)(16)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	landsman@ncbi.nlm.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 authorities knowledgeable in the fields of research relevant to NLM, including biomedical informatics, data science, computational biology, and their applications in health and biomedical sciences.
How is membership balanced?*	The Board consists of members who are outstanding authorities knowledgeable in the fields of research relevant to NLM, including biomedical informatics, data science, computational biology, and their applications in health and biomedical sciences. The advisory role is indispensable because it is technically informed and scientifically knowledgeable. The Board conducts a critical review and assessment of NLM intramural research efforts and staff.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Board met twice during FY2025 on November 6, 2024 and April 30, 2025. The Board expects to meet twice in FY2026.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This committee is composed of recognized scientific and technical research authorities in biomedical communications who represent the forefront of research and technical knowledge. Their recommendations cannot be obtained from other sources because of the complex nature of research and of research program emphasis and management which requires a specialized balance and breadth of expertise not available from the NIH staff or from other established sources.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The meetings of the Board are partially closed to review intramural research programs and investigators at the National Library of Medicine. 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: This committee did not produce any reports during this reporting period. Committee Decision Maker and Designated Federal Officer are the same individual based on assigned duties within NLM. Dr. Maricel Kann is a local member and receives honoraria only, and travel and per diem were not projected for her for FY2026. Dr. Peter Tarczy-Hornoch term as Chair ended June 30, 2025, and Dr. I. King Jordan is being reassigned to serve as the Chair through June 30, 2027.

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	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	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 NLM BSC evaluated program priorities and adjusted institute resources for senior investigators based on increasing constraints on program budgets. The NLM BSC also enhanced its medical informatics training program.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	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 disease.	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 suggestions and recommendations.	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 the National Library of Medicine Committee Management Office.
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 9:54 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Computer Technology Technology Information Technology Education Education Health Medical Education Medicine Health and Health Research

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports