Overview
Title
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed Meeting
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is having a secret online meeting to talk about special awards for new ideas, and only a few people can join to keep important secrets safe.
Summary AI
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is holding a closed meeting from April 24-29, 2025, to review grant applications. This meeting will be conducted virtually and is closed to the public to protect confidential information, including trade secrets and personal privacy. The meeting is part of a special emphasis panel for the NIAID New Innovators Awards. The contact person for the meeting is Frank S. De Silva, Ph.D., who works with the Scientific Review Program at the National Institutes of Health.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document is a notice from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, announcing a closed meeting. Scheduled for April 24-29, 2025, this meeting intends to review and evaluate grant applications for the NIAID New Innovators Awards. It will be conducted virtually and is not open to the public due to the potential disclosure of confidential information, which includes trade secrets and personal details of individuals linked to grant applications.
Summary and Context
The meeting, as outlined, falls under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and U.S. legal codes, which allow certain meetings to remain private to protect sensitive information. These protections are important for maintaining the confidentiality of proprietary and personal information, which if disclosed, could lead to competitive disadvantages or unwarranted invasions of privacy.
Issues and Concerns
Lack of Transparency:
One significant issue is the closed nature of the meeting, which might raise concerns about transparency. The potential disclosure of trade secrets and personal information serves as justification, yet this lack of openness might be troubling to some who could see it as a reduction in public accountability and oversight.
Vagueness and Clarity:
While confidentiality is cited in sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), the notice lacks specific details about the type of information deemed confidential. This vagueness can be unsatisfactory for those seeking greater clarity and assurances regarding the necessity of a closed meeting.
Ambiguity and Communication:
The time frame mentioned (April 24-29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is broad, leaving room for confusion about the exact scheduling of sessions. Additionally, terms like "NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" might be misunderstood without further explanation for those unfamiliar with such jargon. The inclusion of a physical location alongside the "Video Assisted Meeting" format might also lead to misunderstandings about attendance requirements.
Obscured Contact Information:
The contact detail for Frank S. De Silva, Ph.D., appears slightly obscured in the document text term ('fdesilva@niaid.nih.gov'), which could pose challenges for those attempting to contact him for more information.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
For the general public, the closed nature of this meeting may signal a lack of engagement or transparency with stakeholders who wish to follow decision-making processes in public institutions. However, for specialists involved, such as applicants or industry experts, this confidentiality could be crucial to protecting competitive trade secrets and ensuring the privacy of individuals.
The stakeholders directly involved, such as the grant applicants themselves, are likely to see benefits from the process's confidentiality, ensuring their proprietary information remains protected. However, individuals and organizations interested in the outcomes of such funding and research grants might find the lack of public access and transparency frustrating.
In summary, while the notice aligns with legal provisions to safeguard sensitive information, it raises legitimate concerns regarding clarity, transparency, and accessibility for those interested in the operations and decisions of public bodies like NIAID.
Issues
• The meeting is closed to the public due to potential disclosure of confidential trade secrets, commercial property, and personal information. This raises concerns about transparency and could be perceived as a lack of public accountability.
• The justification for closing the meeting is in accordance with sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), but no specific details are provided on the nature of the confidential information or how it would impact personal privacy, which might be considered overly vague.
• The notice includes a time frame for the meeting (April 24-29, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), which is quite general and might lack clarity on whether the meeting will be held on all those days or if specific sessions are planned for particular days.
• Language such as 'NIAID New Innovators Awards (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)' and 'Video Assisted Meeting' may not be easily understood by the general public without further context or explanation.
• The physical location (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 5601 Fishers Lane, Room 3E72A, Rockville, MD 20892) is listed despite the meeting being video assisted. This could potentially result in confusion about whether in-person attendance is required or possible.
• The contact email for Frank S. De Silva is mildly obscured in the document text ('*fdesilva@niaid.nih.gov*'), which may be confusing for readers attempting to reach out for more information.