Overview
Title
National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health; Notice of Closed Meeting
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is having a small, private online meeting to talk about secret and personal things related to some special research helper money they give out. They aren't inviting everyone to keep those secrets safe, and a man named Michael is the person to ask if you want to know more.
Summary AI
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is holding a closed virtual meeting on January 21, 2025, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting will focus on reviewing and evaluating grant applications for the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health's Institutional Research Training Grants. The decision to keep the meeting closed is to protect confidential information related to trade secrets and personal privacy. Michael E. Authement, Ph.D., is the contact person for this event, and further details can be accessed through his official email.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register announces a closed meeting of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health scheduled for January 21, 2025. This meeting, held virtually from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., aims to evaluate and review grant applications related to Institutional Research Training Grants. The meeting is closed to protect confidential information, including trade secrets and personal data.
General Summary
This notice outlines the key details of an upcoming meeting facilitated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The meeting will focus on discussions that necessitate confidentiality under sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) of title 5 U.S.C. These sections exempt specific matters such as trade secrets and personal privacy from public disclosure. Michael E. Authement, Ph.D., is the designated contact, whose email is provided for further inquiries.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One of the primary concerns with this document is the lack of clarity regarding the specific content that requires confidentiality, which may raise transparency issues. The legal citations related to the meeting's closure (sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6)) are not explained, potentially leaving a lay audience confused about why this measure is necessary.
Additionally, while the document mentions a "Virtual Meeting," it lacks instructions on how authorized individuals can participate. This absence of detailed access information may hamper legitimate attendees' ability to engage with the meeting. Furthermore, there is no explanation provided for why the meeting will be virtual rather than in person, which might lead to speculation.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the document signifies another example of government meetings conducted behind closed doors, which might prompt concerns about lack of transparency in federal operations. While the argument for confidentiality aims to protect sensitive data, understanding the specifics could hold interest for those directly or indirectly affected by the information being discussed.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders, particularly those involved in complementary and integrative health research, this meeting is crucial as it pertains to the allocation of grant funds crucial for advancing their work. The outcome could significantly affect their projects’ feasibility and future directions.
However, the closed nature of the meeting might negatively impact these stakeholders by limiting their ability to engage directly or understand the criteria against which applications are evaluated. Increased transparency and clear instructions on how potential participants can be involved or kept informed could serve to mitigate concerns and enhance trust in the process.
In conclusion, while the document serves to notify relevant parties about an important upcoming meeting, it could benefit from greater transparency and clarity to assure both the public and specific stakeholders that the process is fair and accessible.
Issues
• The document states that the meeting will be 'closed to the public' without elaborating on the specific nature of the discussions that necessitate confidentiality, which could lead to perceptions of lack of transparency.
• The reasoning for the meeting being closed is vaguely justified with reference to sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), without further explanation of what these sections entail, which might be unclear to readers unfamiliar with these legal provisions.
• The format of the meeting is mentioned as 'Virtual Meeting', but there are no details provided on how authorized individuals can attend or access the meeting, potentially limiting accessibility.
• The document provides contact information for 'Michael E Authement, Ph.D.' but does not clarify the procedure for inquiries or additional questions, which might be needed to facilitate communication.
• There is no explanation as to why the meeting is scheduled to be held virtually, leaving room for speculation on why an in-person meeting isn't feasible.