FR 2024-29159

Overview

Title

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meeting

Agencies

ELI5 AI

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is having a private meeting on their computers to talk about medicine to help kids’ brain development, and Dr. Lai Yee Leung is the person in charge. The meeting is secret so they can keep important things about the medicines safe.

Summary AI

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a closed meeting for the Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel, focusing on drug discovery for neurodevelopmental disorders. This meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will take place virtually. The meeting will be private to protect confidential information and trade secrets related to the grant applications under discussion. Dr. Lai Yee Leung is the contact person for the event, and she can be reached at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland.

Type: Notice
Citation: 89 FR 100518
Document #: 2024-29159
Date:
Volume: 89
Pages: 100518-100518

AnalysisAI

The document under review is a notice regarding a closed meeting by the Center for Scientific Review, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This meeting, scheduled for January 10, 2025, will focus on drug discovery for neurodevelopmental disorders, and is set to take place virtually. As is customary for such gatherings, the meeting will not be open to the public to safeguard sensitive information, including trade secrets and personal details of individuals associated with grant applications.

General Summary

The notice provides essential details about the upcoming meeting, including its purpose, date, time, and format. The key aim of the meeting is to review and evaluate grant applications related to drug discovery in neurodevelopmental disorders. It emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, highlighting the need to protect potentially patentable material and personal privacy.

Significant Issues or Concerns

Several concerns arise from the content of this notice. Firstly, while it mentions that the meeting is closed due to the sensitive nature of the information being discussed, it does not specify the number of applications under review or the potential funding involved. This lack of detail may lead to perceptions of limited transparency.

Moreover, although the meeting will be conducted virtually, the notice does not clarify the security measures in place to protect the confidential information discussed during the meeting. Ensuring robust security is essential given the sensitive nature of the materials involved.

Additionally, the notice lists multiple Federal Domestic Assistance Program numbers without explaining their specific relevance to the meeting. This lack of contextual information could be confusing to readers trying to understand the precise connection between these programs and the meeting's objectives.

Another point is the missing information about mechanisms for accountability or follow-up actions after the meeting. Transparency in this area would help reassure stakeholders that the discussions and decisions made during the meeting are subject to oversight and evaluation.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

For the public, this notice might be seen as a matter of procedural routine within governmental operations. However, the lack of detailed information on public interest aspects, such as the transparency of funding and outcomes, could generate skepticism. Members of the public interested in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders or in the allocation of federal funds to scientific research might feel excluded from essential debates impacting healthcare advancements.

From the perspective of specific stakeholders, such as researchers or institutions involved in the applications, this meeting is crucial. It represents an opportunity to secure funding and support for their work. However, the absence of clarity on certain procedural elements might cause uncertainty for applicants and other involved parties. Ensuring open lines of communication and clear post-meeting processes could alleviate these concerns and enhance trust in the review process.

In summary, while the document serves as a formal announcement necessary for regulatory compliance, incorporating greater transparency and clarity could significantly enhance its utility for the public and stakeholders alike. Transparent communication on procedures, funding, and follow-up accountability would foster trust and understanding, benefiting both the scientific community and the broader public interested in these developments.

Issues

  • • The notice mentions a closed meeting for reviewing grant applications but does not specify the total number of applications to be reviewed or the funds involved, leaving potential concerns about transparency.

  • • The meeting format is described as a 'Virtual Meeting,' but it does not provide details on how secure the virtual meeting platform is or if there are measures in place to protect sensitive information discussed.

  • • The notice provides a list of Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program numbers but does not explain their relevance or the connection to the meeting, which might be unclear to the readers.

  • • The language used for the contact information is straightforward, but the broader context of the meeting's importance and scope could be elaborated more clearly to ensure comprehensibility for the public.

  • • The document does not specify any mechanisms for accountability or follow-up actions post-meeting, which might raise concerns about transparency and oversight.

Statistics

Size

Pages: 1
Words: 325
Sentences: 12
Entities: 48

Language

Nouns: 116
Verbs: 14
Adjectives: 8
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 38

Complexity

Average Token Length:
5.26
Average Sentence Length:
27.08
Token Entropy:
4.65
Readability (ARI):
19.85

Reading Time

about a minute or two