FR 2025-06086

The Federal Register notice concerns an upcoming meeting of the Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel focusing on Fellowships related to Brain Disorders and Neurosciences. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a change in the contact person for this meeting, which is set to take place from April 24 to 25, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. Instead of Sulanga Banerjee, Nilkantha Sen will now serve as the contact person for this event, as was previously documented under a different notice published on March 21, 2025. Importantly, the meeting remains closed to the public.

General Summary of the Document

This notice serves primarily as an update to a previously published announcement concerning administrative details for an upcoming NIH meeting addressing brain disorders. The main change highlighted by this document relates to the switch in contact personnel. This update was issued by the NIH and is officially recorded in the Federal Register, serving as a public record of governmental activities.

Significant Issues or Concerns

One point of concern that emerges from this notice is the lack of transparency regarding the reasons for changing the contact person from Sulanga Banerjee to Nilkantha Sen. Such changes in key personnel can often imply shifting responsibilities or organizational restructuring, which may be of interest to stakeholders and the public.

Moreover, the decision to keep the meeting closed to the public may raise questions about transparency and inclusivity. While such meetings often involve sensitive information, the lack of an explanation for the closed status could lead to concerns regarding the NIH's engagement with external stakeholders and the broader community.

Public Impact

For the general public, this document may seem to have minimal direct impact. It essentially serves as a record of the logistics surrounding an officially scheduled meeting. Given that the meeting is closed to the public, stakeholders outside the academic and professional circles directly engaged with the NIH may not find immediate relevance in this announcement.

However, for those interested in scientific meetings and developments in the field of brain disorders and neuroscience, such changes could signal administrative adjustments that might influence the logistical management of NIH's interactions with researchers and fellows.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For researchers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders involved in the neuroscience field, the primary impact lies in the change of contact personnel. This can affect communications and the facilitation of information pertinent to the meeting's agenda and outcomes. The reallocation of these duties to Nilkantha Sen might influence how inquiries and correspondence are managed.

Furthermore, while the closed nature of the meeting aligns with specific federal guidelines, it may impact transparency and accessibility for stakeholders who could benefit from the discussions and findings. It is crucial for the NIH to provide reassurances that key insights and decisions from this gathering will be disseminated through appropriate channels, ensuring the broader scientific community remains informed.

In conclusion, while this notice represents a procedural update, its implications touch upon broader themes of transparency and communication within the scientific policy-making process.