Field Research Advisory Committee (FRAC)
Overview
The purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs Field Research Advisory Committee (FRAC) is to:
- promote communication between the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and investigators in the field,
- provide input on issues relevant to VA research, and
- participate in strategic planning.
The purview of FRAC includes all research sponsored and/or conducted by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Research and Development. The Deputy Under Secretary for Health established this committee on May 27, 2004 – see Dr. Perlin's 5/27/04 memo to the ACOS (161 KB, PDF). The FRAC approved Operating Procedures at its meeting on July 9, 2004.
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Organization
The FRAC is designed to broadly represent the field of VA researchers. It consists of key representatives from the field as well as VACO staff. Representatives are elected for 3-year terms, with one-third of the field membership rotating off annually. The FRAC meets on a quarterly basis, with minutes published for distribution to the field.
In order to facilitate better communication among the five ACOS/R&D representatives on the FRAC, a quarterly conference call is held prior to each quarterly meeting to discuss issues. The five ACOS/R&D representatives are responsible for establishing and maintaining communication networks within their respective regions.
Field Research Representatives:
- Five ACOS/R&D -- one from each of the five geographic regions recognized by the Office of Research Oversight (ORO), -- are elected by their peers.
- The following additional field representatives, also elected by their peers within the subset they represent, including:
- One director of a Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence
- One director of a Health Services R&D Center of Excellence
- One study chairman from among all studies funded by the Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)
- One non-clinician Ph.D. scientist from among all Research Career Scientists and Senior Research Career Scientists
VACO ORD Staff Represenatives:
- Chief Research and Development Officer (CRADO)
- Deputy CRADO
- Directors of the four research services:
- Biomedical Laboratory R&D Service (BLR&D)
- Clinical Science R&D Service (CSR&D)
- Health Services R&D Service (HSR&D)
- Rehabilitation R&D Service (RR&D)
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Membership
FRAC Regions
- Mid-Atlantic Region — VISNs 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Christopher Bever, M.D. (Baltimore), christopher.bever@va.gov
- Midwestern Region — VISNs: 11, 12, 15, 19, 23
Larry Meyer, M.D., Ph.D. (Salt Lake City), laurence.meyer@va.gov
- Northeastern Region — VISNs: 1, 2, 3
Robert Swift, M.D., Ph.D. (Providence), robert.swift@va.gov
- Southern Region — VISNs: 7, 8, 16, 17
Michael Hart, M.D. (Atlanta), michael.hart3@va.gov
- Western Region — VISNs: 18, 20, 21, 22
Dean Yamaguchi, M.D., Ph.D. (Los Angeles), dean.yamaguchi@va.gov
Other Field Representatives
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Administrative Officer
Elizabeth Lisa Pratt, elizabeth.pratt@va.gov
- Career Development Study Chair
Steven Goldman, M.D., steven.goldman@va.gov
- Study Chairman, Cooperative Studies Program
Steven Goldman, M.D., steven.goldman@va.gov
- Director, HSR&D COE
Eugene Oddone, M.D., M.H.Sc, eugene.oddone@va.gov
- Director, RR&D COE
Ron Triolo, Ph.D., ronald.triolo@va.gov or ronald.triolo@case.edu
- Research Career Scientist
Randy Strong, Ph.D., strong@uthscsa.edu
- PECASE
Albert Lo, M.D., Ph.D., albert.lo@va.gov or albert_lo@brown.edu
VACO Staff
- Chief Research and Development Officer (CRADO)
Joel Kupersmith, M.D., joel.kupersmith@va.gov
- Deputy CRADO
Timothy J. O'Leary, M.D., Ph.D., timothy.oleary@va.gov
- Acting Director, Biomedical Laboratory R&D Service (BLR&D)
Ronald Przygodzki, M.D., ronald.przygodzki@va.gov
- Director, Clinical Science R&D Service (CSR&D)
Timothy J. O'Leary, M.D., Ph.D., timothy.oleary@va.gov
- Director, Health Services R&D (HSR&D)
Seth A. Eisen, M.D., MSc, seth.eisen@va.gov
- Acting Director, Rehabilitation R&D Services (RR&D)
Patricia Dorn, Ph.D., patricia.dorn@va.gov
Office of Research and Development Contact Information:
Laurie Barnaby, M.B.A.
Phone: (202) 443-5718
Email:
laurie.barnaby@va.gov
Angela Whatley, Ph.D.
Phone: (202) 443-5621
Email: angela.whatley@va.gov
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