HomeAbout NHGRIInstitute AdvisorsBoard of Scientific Counselors Board of Scientific Counselors Charter

National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Md. 20892
www.nih.gov

Board of Scientific Counselors Charter

Purpose

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI; also referred to as "Institute") was established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) on October 1, 1989. The extramural component of the NHGRI is charged with effecting the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) component of the U.S. Human Genome Project. To this end the Institute plans genome project research goals for mapping and sequencing the human genome, supports research and research training programs related to attaining these goals, and advises, assists, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Director, NIH, on matters related to activities and policies respecting such activities carried out by and through the Institute. The Director, NIH, created the Division of Intramural Research of the National Human Genome Research Institute on February 2, 1993, in order to establish a central focal point for human genetics research at the NIH.

The Board of Scientific Counselors, National Human Genome Research Institute (Board), shall review and evaluate the intramural program and the work of individual scientists. The Director, NIH, is mandated under Section 492(b) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended, to establish procedures for periodic technical and scientific peer review of research at the National Institutes of Health. These procedures should consider the work - past, present, and future - conducted by an entire laboratory or a section of a laboratory as well as the research projects of individual investigators.

Authority

42 U.S.C. 282(b)(6), Section 402(b)(6) of the PHS Act, as amended. This Board is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The Board shall advise the Director, NIH; the Deputy Director for Intramural Research, NIH; the Director, NHGRI; and the Scientific Director, NHGRI, concerning the Institute's intramural research programs through periodic visits to the laboratories to assess the research in progress, the proposed research, and the productivity and performance of staff scientists.

The Board will be provided with a written description of the overall research to be reviewed. This written description will present the past accomplishments of the laboratory and its investigators since the last review was conducted. The written description will present the general aims, objectives, and projected directions of the research projects to be conducted; appropriate background information on possible future research projects; a brief summary of the general research plan; and an indication of the importance of the research project.

The Board, after conducting the review, will submit a written description of the research, the results of the review, and the recommendations of the Board to the Director, NHGRI and the Scientific Director of the Institute. The Scientific Director will report at least annually to the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research the results of the review.

Structure

The Board shall consist of nine members, including the Chair. The Chair and members are selected by the Director, NIH, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of genomics, medical genetics, human and mammalian genetics, cancer biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, biochemistry, chemical genomics and translational research, bioinformatics, and social and behavioral research. Members shall be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to five years. The term for a member who is to serve as Chair may include a fifth year.

Management and support services shall be provided by the Scientific Director, NHGRI.

Meetings

Meetings shall be held approximately twice a year at the call of the Chair, with the advance approval of a Government official who also approves the agenda. A Government official shall be present at all meetings.

Meetings shall be open to the public unless determined otherwise by the Secretary; notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.

Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws and Departmental policies.

Compensation

Members shall be paid at the rate of $200 per day, plus per diem and travel expenses, as authorized by Section 5703, Title 5 U.S.C., as amended, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. Members who are officers or employees of the United States shall not receive compensation for service on the Board.

Annual Cost Estimate

The estimated annual cost for operating the Board, including compensation and travel expenses for members, but excluding staff support, is $8,523. The estimate of annual person-years of staff support required is 0.4, at an estimated annual cost of $25,922.

Reports

In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, as a minimum, a list of members and their business addresses, the Board's functions, dates, and places of meetings, and a summary of Board activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report shall be provided to the Department Committee Management Officer.

Establishment Date

July 15, 1994

Termination Date

Continuing

Approved

February 19, 2006

Dr. Elias Zerhouni
Director, NIH

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Last Updated: February 21, 2008