Overview
Title
National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health; Notice of Closed Meeting
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is having a secret meeting online on February 19, 2021, to talk about who gets grant money. They're keeping it private so no one finds out things like secrets or personal information.
Summary AI
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is holding a closed meeting on February 19, 2021, to review and evaluate grant applications. This meeting will be virtual and is closed to the public because it could involve discussions of confidential information, like trade secrets or personal data, which could invade personal privacy if disclosed. The meeting will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and participants can join virtually from the NIH/NCCIH in Bethesda, MD. Patrick Colby Still, Ph.D., is the contact person for this event.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register is a notice announcing a closed meeting of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2021, and will be conducted virtually. Its purpose is to review and evaluate grant applications related to pilot projects that aim to enhance the impact of NIH Centers focusing on research involving botanicals and other natural products.
General Summary
This notice indicates that the upcoming meeting will be closed to the public due to the sensitive nature of discussions that will take place. Under legal provisions, specifically sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) of Title 5 of the U.S. Code, such meetings can be closed if they involve confidential trade secrets, commercial property, or personal privacy concerns. The document mentions that Patrick Colby Still, Ph.D., is the designated contact person for the meeting.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One notable issue is the lack of specificity in the document regarding the nature of the confidential matters that necessitate closing the meeting to the public. While reference is made to trade secrets and privacy concerns, the document omits detailed information about how these elements precisely justify the exemptions under the law.
Furthermore, the notice does not describe how the pilot projects under discussion specifically aim to increase the impact of the NIH Centers on research related to botanicals and natural products. This information could be beneficial for public understanding and might generate more interest and support for such initiatives.
Impact on the Public
From the perspective of the general public, this closed meeting notice is a reminder of the bureaucratic processes involved in federal research funding. While the public may not be able to attend or directly understand the intricacies of the discussions, they benefit indirectly. Closed meetings often ensure that sensitive or proprietary information is protected, which is crucial for fostering innovation and supporting ongoing research efforts without unintended disclosures.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders such as researchers and organizations involved in complementary and integrative health, this meeting is highly significant. It could impact their access to funding and their ability to conduct research. The grant evaluations discussed in this setting could lead to opportunities for these stakeholders to advance their work with the support of federal resources.
However, the closed nature of the meeting might be seen as a downside since stakeholders and applicants may not gain insights into the decision-making process. Transparency in how grants are evaluated and awarded can be crucial in building trust and optimizing research practices.
Overall, while the document outlines an important administrative procedure, the lack of detailed explanations about the meeting’s content limits stakeholders’ and the general public’s understanding of its broader implications.
Issues
• The notice states the meeting will be closed to the public due to the disclosure of confidential information, but it does not provide specifics on the nature of these confidential matters. Some additional context might be warranted for public understanding, while still maintaining confidentiality.
• The stated reason for closing the meeting is to prevent an invasion of personal privacy and to protect trade secrets, but it could mention more clearly how the discussions specifically align with these exemptions under 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6).
• The notice does not provide details on how the pilot projects will be increasing the impact of the NIH Centers for Advancing Research on Botanicals and Other Natural Products, which might interest the public.
• The document is missing an abstract, which could provide a helpful summary for quick understanding of the meeting's purpose and intention.