FR 2025-04409

The recent notice from the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) outlines an upcoming closed meeting scheduled for April 22, 2025. This virtual meeting, running from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., forms part of a Special Emphasis Panel focused on the review of grant applications concerning the application of Organs-on-a-Chip technology in dental, oral, and craniofacial research. Importantly, this meeting will not be open to the public, citing the need to protect confidential trade secrets, commercial property such as patentable material, and personal information relating to individuals involved in the grant applications.

General Summary

The notice serves to inform the public about the upcoming closed meeting, while providing specific details such as the date, time, and format of the meeting. It mentions that the purpose of the session is to review and evaluate grant applications, highlighting the involvement of the NIDCR in advancing research in this specialized field. Dr. Jingshan Chen is listed as the contact person for further inquiries.

Significant Issues and Concerns

There are several notable concerns with the information provided in the notice:

• Transparency: The document does not provide details about which specific grant applications will be reviewed or the criteria for their evaluation. This lack of transparency may concern stakeholders interested in the outcomes of these reviews.

• Confidentiality Potentially Underexplained: While the document mentions the need to protect sensitive information, it does not elaborate on the safeguards employed during the meeting. This vagueness raises questions about how the confidentiality of proprietary information and personal privacy will be maintained, especially in a virtual setting.

• Public Oversight: The document claims confidentiality as the reason for closing the meeting, but might not provide sufficient justification for excluding public oversight, which is typically valued in government processes to ensure accountability.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the decision to close this meeting may have mixed impacts on the public. While it ensures that sensitive information is protected, it might also contribute to perceptions of opacity in government-funded research processes. People interested in advancements in dental and craniofacial research may feel excluded from understanding how decisions are being made, potentially leading to distrust in how research funding is allocated.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders directly involved in the grant application process, such as researchers and institutions applying for funding, the closed nature of the meeting ensures that their proprietary information and trade secrets remain confidential. This protection can be crucial for developing competitive and innovative research projects without the risk of intellectual property leaking to competitors.

Conversely, stakeholders such as public interest groups and watchdog organizations might view the lack of public access as a drawback, limiting their ability to monitor government actions and advocate for transparency and accountability in publicly funded endeavors.

Overall, while the notice effectively provides the logistical details of the meeting, it leaves unanswered questions regarding transparency and confidentiality protection—issues of great importance to various stakeholders and the public at large.