FR 2021-02297

The document from the Federal Register discusses a forthcoming closed meeting organized by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the National Institutes of Health. Scheduled for March 18th and 19th, 2021, this meeting will be conducted virtually and is not open to the public. The meeting's purpose is to review and evaluate grant applications focused on research pertaining to neuroscience, specifically regarding interoception. The decision to close the meeting is based on the need to protect confidential trade secrets, commercial property, and personal privacy associated with the grant applications.

Summary of the Document

In essence, the document serves as a formal notice of a meeting that will involve discussions on sensitive and potentially proprietary information. Given the subject of the meeting, knowledge-sharing would ordinarily contribute to a broader understanding and advancements in the field of neuroscience research. However, by closing the meeting, the organizers aim to safeguard the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of competitive data included in grant applications.

Significant Issues or Concerns

A noteworthy consideration is the rationale for closing the meeting to public access. While the protection of trade secrets and personal privacy is reasonable, it leaves room for questions regarding the transparency and accountability of decision-making processes during the review of grant applications. Furthermore, details about the specific platform or security measures for the virtual meeting have not been provided, which raises concerns about how unauthorized access will be effectively prevented.

There is also an absence of explanation or justification regarding the duration of the meeting, which spans over two days. This lack of detail makes it unclear whether the time allocated is appropriate given the complexity and volume of the grant applications under review.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, the key effect of this closed meeting is limited access to information and a potential lack of insight into the decision-making processes within important scientific funding. This restriction, while possibly necessary, may contribute to a perception of opacity in how federal funds are awarded for research purposes.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders directly involved in the neuroscience research community, this meeting could have significant implications. Researchers and academic institutions seeking federal grants may be affected by the outcomes of this review, impacting their future work and contributions to the field. On the one hand, the closed nature of the meeting protects sensitive information, which is a positive for those seeking to secure intellectual property rights. On the other hand, it may hinder opportunities for collaboration that could arise from more open discussions.

In conclusion, while the meeting is set to occur under a cloak of confidentiality with protection of sensitive information and personal privacy as the stated objectives, there exist valid concerns regarding transparency and security measures that need to be addressed to ensure that the process is trustworthy and benefits all stakeholders involved.