Overview
Title
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed Meeting
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is having a secret online meeting on February 12, 2025, to look at some grant papers, and they are keeping it private to protect people's personal information.
Summary AI
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is holding a closed meeting on February 12, 2025. This meeting is to evaluate grant applications and will take place via video conference. It is closed to the public to protect confidential information and personal privacy. For more details, Mairi Noverr can be contacted at the National Institutes of Health.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register announces a closed meeting of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2025, and will be conducted via video conference. The primary objective of this meeting is to review and evaluate grant applications. However, it is closed to the public to protect confidential information, including potential trade secrets and personal details that would violate privacy if disclosed.
General Summary
The notice outlines an upcoming closed meeting conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The meeting is intended to evaluate grant applications related to clinical trials. The closure is justified under specific legal provisions to safeguard sensitive information that might include proprietary data or personal information of individuals involved in grant applications. The meeting will take place at the NIH facility in Rockville, MD, though it will use video assistance technology for remote participation. Contact information for the Scientific Review Officer, Dr. Mairi Noverr, is provided for those needing further details.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the principal issues arising from this document is the lack of transparency regarding the criteria determining the confidentiality of these grant applications. While the notice refers to legal provisions for closing the meeting, these references are couched in complex legal language that may be difficult for a general audience to understand fully. This complexity can obscure the rationale behind closing such governmental meetings, potentially fostering public skepticism.
Additionally, the document provides contact details for further inquiries but does not specify the availability of the contact person. This omission could hinder effective communication and accessibility for those seeking more information.
Public Impact
For the general public, the closure of this meeting may raise concerns regarding transparency in governmental and scientific processes. While the protection of sensitive information is vital, the public may feel alienated from proceedings that involve the allocation of national funds for scientific research. This isolation can decrease public trust and engagement with government activities.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders directly involved, such as scientists and institutions submitting grant applications, the closed nature of the meeting ensures that their proprietary information and intellectual property remain protected. This protection is crucial in upholding the competitive nature of scientific research and innovation.
However, stakeholders advocating for more transparency in governmental procedures might view this closure as a negative development. They may argue that a more open process is essential for accountability and public involvement, particularly when public funds are at stake.
Overall, while the protection of sensitive information is necessary, balancing this need with public transparency remains a complex challenge for governmental agencies like the NIH.
Issues
• The notice states that the meeting will be closed to the public due to confidential information, which may not allow for public scrutiny on the necessity of closing the meeting.
• The document does not elaborate on the criteria used to determine why these grant applications are considered confidential in detail, which could raise issues of transparency.
• The language used in describing sections under which the meeting is closed could be perceived as overly complex legal jargon (e.g., 'sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), title 5 U.S.C.').
• Contact information includes a phone number and an email, but it does not specify when the contact person is available to assist or respond, which could lead to communication delays.