FR 2021-01444

The document is an official notice from the National Institute of Nursing Research, a branch within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), regarding a closed meeting set for February 18-19, 2021. This meeting primarily serves to review and evaluate grant applications. The meeting will transpire virtually, highlighting both efficiency and the need for discretion due to the sensitive nature of the content discussed.

Summary of the Document

This notice informs readers that the forthcoming meeting will be closed to the public. According to federal regulations, certain meetings can be kept private if the content involves confidential trade secrets, commercial properties, or personal information that may lead to privacy invasions if disclosed. The document provides logistical details such as the meeting's timing and place (virtually held due to privacy considerations), and contact information for Cheryl Nordstrom, the Scientific Review Officer responsible for more information.

Significant Issues or Concerns

A notable issue with the document is its lack of explicit details about why the meeting needs to be closed beyond the broad mention of confidentiality and privacy concerns. While it's understandable that sensitive information needs protection, the notice could benefit from more transparency about the potential impact or significance of the grant applications under review. This would help interested parties understand the importance of the meeting.

Furthermore, the inclusion of direct contact information for the Scientific Review Officer might not be necessary. While providing a contact is routine in such notices, it opens up the possibility of unsolicited communications that could disrupt regular operations.

Impact on the Public

To the general public, this document might seem like a routine administrative announcement with limited immediate impact. However, the grant applications under review during this meeting could lead to significant advancements in nursing research, potentially impacting public health services and outcomes.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders such as grant applicants, academic researchers, and institutions involved in nursing research, this meeting is of considerable consequence. It represents a critical point in the funding process, potentially influencing future research directions and priorities. Applicants and institutions could receive vital support through these grants, making steps toward innovation in healthcare and patient care practices.

The announcement also carries implications for policy makers and healthcare professionals, as the outcomes of such grant discussions might eventually shape healthcare policies or funding priorities. While the document itself doesn't provide detailed insights into these applications or their potential impacts, interested parties might seek further information from the provided contacts to understand the scope of discussions that might direct future research trajectories.

Overall, the document underscores the ongoing, complex interaction between governmental agencies and the scientific community in fostering research and development in essential sectors like healthcare.