National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council August 2015 Meeting Summary

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL

MEETING SUMMARY OF THE
NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL

August 26, 2015
The 263rd meeting of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) was convened on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, in Rockledge II, Conference Room 9100/9104, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting was closed to the public from 1:03 p.m. until adjournment at 2:58 p.m. Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), presided as Chair.

Council Members attending via teleconference                                                 
Dr. Bradford C. Berk                                               
Dr. George Q. Daley                                               
Dr. Jonathan A. Epstein                                         
Dr. Ron G. King                                                      
Dr. Barbara A. Konkle
Dr. Fernando Martinez                                            
Dr. Bruce M. Psaty                                                  
Dr. Anna Maria Siega-Riz                                       
Dr. Jeffrey A. Whitsett 
                        
Ad Hoc Members attending via teleconference
Dr. Nancy J. Brown
Dr. Michael R. DeBaun
Dr. Serpil C. Erzurum                
Dr. Pilar Ossorio
Dr. Phyllis C. Zee

NHLBI employees attending
A number of NHLBI staff members were in attendance

Council Members unable to attend
Dr. James D. Crapo
Dr. Pamela S. Douglas
Dr. Véronique Lee Roger

I. CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING REMARKS – Dr. Gary H. Gibbons

Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), welcomed members and called the 263rd meeting of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC) to order at 1:03 p.m. The meeting was held via teleconference for the members.

II. REVIEW OF CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST – Dr. Stephen C. Mockrin

The Council was reminded that under Public Law 92-463, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the entire meeting was closed to the public, for the consideration of grant applications. A notice of this meeting was published in the Federal Register indicating that it would not be open to the public. Dr. Mockrin also reminded the Council members that they are Special Government Employees and are subject to Departmental conduct regulations.

The session included a discussion of procedures and policies regarding voting and confidentiality of application materials, committee discussions and recommendations. Members were not present during discussion of, and voting on, applications from their own institutions, or other applications in which there was a potential conflict of interest, real or apparent. Members were asked to sign a statement to this effect.

III. REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

The Council considered and recommended 659 applications requesting $246,730,891 in total direct costs.

IV. UPDATE ON THE NIH STRATEGIC PLAN – Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak

NIH Deputy Director Dr. Tabak provided Council members an update on “Developing the NIH- wide Strategic Plan,” which is Congressionally-mandated. The five-year plan will identify strategic focus areas that consider return on investment, ensure rare and pediatric diseases remain a priority as well as maintaining the biomedical workforce. It will be used by all NIH Institutes and Centers.

V. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:58 p.m.