FR 2021-03614

The document titled "National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Notice of Closed Meetings" provides an official announcement about a series of closed-door meetings scheduled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). These meetings are planned to take place virtually in March 2021 and are intended for reviewing and evaluating grant applications. The notice specifies that these meetings will be closed to the public due to the sensitive nature of the content discussed, such as confidential trade secrets and personal information.

Summary of the Document

The document sets out the dates, times, and subjects of three upcoming meetings focusing on various topics, including Pain Therapeutics Development, P01 Review, and Wellstone Centers Review. It specifies that these meetings will take place virtually from the Neuroscience Center at the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland. Contact information for each committee's Scientific Review Officer is provided, suggesting points of reference for further inquiries or concerns.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several issues emerge from this notice that merit attention:

• Lack of Evaluation Criteria: The document does not provide specifics regarding the criteria used for grant evaluations, which might raise concerns about the transparency and fairness of the decision-making process.

• Absence of Stakeholder Information: There is no mention of specific stakeholders or entities involved in these meetings, which could lead to questions about potential conflicts of interest.

• Unspecified Funding Details: Information about the total funding available or how it will be distributed is not disclosed, making it challenging to assess whether there might be any wasteful spending.

• Broad Justifications for Closed Meetings: The justifications for closing these meetings to the public are rather broad, such as protecting personal privacy and confidential information. More concrete examples would enhance public understanding of the need for secrecy.

• Complex Bureaucratic Language: The document employs technical and bureaucratic language, which could be confusing for individuals not familiar with federal procedures or the subject matter.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, this document underscores a common practice within government agencies to conduct closed meetings when sensitive matters are discussed. While this is generally aimed at protecting privacy and proprietary information, it might leave the public feeling disconnected from decisions that may eventually impact health research and funding allocations.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders directly involved, such as research institutions and individual researchers, this notice represents an important opportunity to have their grant applications considered for funding. However, the lack of transparency concerning the evaluation process and funding decisions may result in skepticism or dissatisfaction among these parties.

In summary, this notice from the Federal Register highlights upcoming closed meetings by NINDS to evaluate grant applications. While the need to protect sensitive information is understandable, the document does leave some questions about transparency and involvement unanswered. Balancing confidentiality with openness in governmental proceedings remains a key challenge for ensuring public trust and engagement.