Board of Scientific Advisors
Charter Summary

42 U.S.C. 285a-2(b)(7), Section 413(b)(7) of the PHS Act, as amended. The 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.

STRUCTURE

The Board shall consist of 35 members, including the Chair appointed by the Director, NCI, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of laboratory, clinical and biometric research, clinical cancer treatment, cancer etiology, and cancer prevention and control, with emphasis on training and experience in the various disciplines and fields related to scientific areas relevant to carcinogenesis, cancer biology and diagnosis, cancer center administration, medicine, radiological and surgical oncology, cancer chemotherapy, cancer epidemiology, cancer prevention and control, cancer education, cancer information services, community outreach, biological, chemical and physical carcinogenesis, DNA repair and effects, tumor biology and immunology, humoral and cellular immunity, hematopoiesis, cell differentiation and transformation, oncogenes and growth factors, molecular and structural biology and genetic regulation, viral oncology, vaccine development, transplantation, chemotherapy, clinical trial design, management and evaluation, pharmacology, drug development and developmental therapeutics, genetic and immunotherapies, pathology, diagnostic research and cytogenetics, biological response modifiers, imaging, nutrition, survey research, epidemiology, biostatistics, rehabilitation, psychology and behavioral medicine, public health and community oncology, quality of life, pain management, cancer detection and diagnosis, cancer treatment and restorative care, dentistry, nursing, public health, nutrition, education of health professionals, medical oncology, surgery, radiotherapy, gynecologic oncology, pediatric oncology, pathology, and biostatistics. None of these members serve as Representatives. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Board shall consist of a majority of appointed members. A quorum for each subcommittee shall be three members.

Members shall be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to five years; terms of more than two years are contingent upon the renewal of the Board’s Charter by appropriate action prior to its expiration. A member may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until a successor has taken office.

As necessary, subcommittees may be established by the Executive Secretary or other designated Government official within the Board’s jurisdiction. The advice/recommendations of a subcommittee must be deliberated by the parent advisory committee. A subcommittee may not report directly to a Federal official unless there is statutory authority to do so.

Subcommittee membership may be drawn in whole or in part from the parent advisory committee. All subcommittee members may vote on subcommittee actions and all subcommittee members count towards the quorum for a subcommittee meeting. Ad hoc consultants do not count towards the quorum and may not vote. Subcommittee members who are not members of the parent committee may attend closed sessions of the parent committee meeting but they may not count towards the quorum of the parent committee and they cannot vote on committee actions. The Department Committee Management Officer shall be notified upon establishment of each standing subcommittee and shall be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

The Director, DEA, will assign a full time or permanent part time DEA employee to serve as the Executive Secretary (also known as a Designated Federal Official or Government official) of the Board. Management and support services shall be provided by the Office of the Director, DEA, NCI..

FUNCTION

The Board shall advise the Director and Deputy Director for Extramural Science, NCI, and the Director of each NCI Division on a wide variety of matters concerning scientific program policy, and progress and future direction of extramural research programs of each of the Divisions. This includes the evaluation of NCI awarded grants, cooperative agreements and contracts and concept review of those activities which it considers meritorious and consistent with the Institute's programs. The advisory role of the Board is scientific and does not include deliberation on matters of public policy.

As necessary, the Board and its subcommittees may call upon special consultants; assemble ad hoc working groups; and convene conferences, workshops, or other activities.

MEETINGS

Meetings of the full Board shall be held approximately three times a year at the call of the Executive Secretary, or other designated Government official. A Government official shall give advance approval of the agenda and be present at all the meetings of the Board and its subcommittees.

Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with subsection (c) of section 552b of Title 5, U.S.C. 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.