FR 2024-29004

Summary of the Document

This document announces a closed meeting of the Disease, Disability, and Injury Prevention and Control Special Emphasis Panel. Organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the meeting is set to occur online on April 29-30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The meeting's purpose is to review and evaluate grant applications. Due to discussions that may involve confidential information, such as trade secrets and personal data, the meeting will not be open to the public. The notice provides contact information for Carlisha Gentles, the Scientific Review Officer responsible for the meeting.

Significant Issues and Concerns

One notable issue is the document's lack of specific details regarding the reasons for closing the meeting. While it generally refers to confidentiality concerns related to trade secrets and personal privacy, it does not offer precise examples or contexts, which could enhance transparency for the public. Additionally, although contact information for Carlisha Gentles is included, the document does not specify the extent to which stakeholders can inquire about or contest the meeting's closed status. Another point of concern is the absence of detail regarding the criteria used for grant evaluations, which leaves the public unclear about potential outcomes or objectives of the meeting. Lastly, the document mentions the Director's authority to issue notices, yet it does not elaborate on how this authority affects the meeting's conduct or confidentiality measures, leaving room for ambiguity.

Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders

For the general public, the closing of this meeting might raise questions about transparency in governmental operations, especially when public resources are concerned, such as grant applications. Such closures might prompt concerns about how decisions are made and who has access to participate or observe in a process that could substantially affect public welfare initiatives.

For specific stakeholders, particularly those involved in fields related to disease, disability, and injury prevention, this meeting is of significant interest. The outcomes of the grant evaluations could influence funding decisions, which in turn could impact research priorities and resource allocation. Stakeholders may find the closed nature of the meeting frustrating due to the lack of opportunity to observe proceedings or to better understand the evaluation process.

In summary, while the document fulfills its purpose of announcing the meeting, further transparency regarding procedural specifics and confidentiality justifications could enhance public understanding and trust in the process. Stakeholders might benefit from clearer guidelines on how they can engage with the process, despite the meeting's closed status.