Notice2026-05362
Joint Brain, Behavioral, and Mental Health and Medical Health Scientific Merit Review Board
Primary source
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Published
March 19, 2026
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
We are giving notice that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs intends to renew the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Joint Brain, Behavioral, and Mental Health and Medical Health Scientific Merit Review Board (formerly Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board) for a 2-year period. The Secretary has determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13405-13406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05362]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Joint Brain, Behavioral, and Mental Health and Medical Health
Scientific Merit Review Board
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of intent to file.
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SUMMARY: We are giving notice that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
intends to renew the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Joint Brain,
Behavioral, and Mental Health and Medical Health Scientific Merit
Review Board (formerly Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and
Development and Clinical Science Research and Development Services
Scientific Merit Review Board) for a 2-year period. The Secretary has
determined that the Committee is necessary and in the public interest.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Moragne, Committee Management
Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, Advisory Committee Management
Office (00AC), 811 Vermont Avenue, 4th floor, NW, Washington, DC 20420;
telephone (202) 714-1578; or email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f3b996959581968addbe9c8192949d96b38592dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2e8c7c4c4d0c7db8cefcdd0c3c5ccc7e2d4c38cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee
ACT, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs intends to renew the Health
Systems Research Scientific Merit Review Board (Joint Brain Behavioral
or Board) for two (2) years from the filing date of the charter's
renewal. The Board is to provide for the fair and equitable selection
of the most meritorious research projects for support by VA research
funds and to offer advice for research program officials on program
priorities and policies. The Board ultimate objective is to provide
expert review of the scientific quality, budget, safety, and mission-
relevance of investigator-initiated research applications submitted for
VA merit review consideration and to offer advice for research program
officials on program priorities and policies.
Also in pursuant to 41 CFR Sec. 102-3.65, the Department of
Veterans Affairs provides this written notice determination stating
that the Board is in the public interest and found to be in accordance
with the Federal Advisory Community Act (FACA), the FACA 2025 Final
Rule, and current to the U.S. General Services Administration,
Committee Management Secretariat guidance. The following factors below
provide an overview of the Committee's operations and public interest
intent.
Annual Budget--The overall operating costs for Joint Brain
Behavioral is $1,600,000. All members receive travel expenses and a per
diem allowance in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation for any
travel made in connection with their duties as members of the Board.
The expected costs are broken into:
(i) Federal personnel (based on full-time equivalent (FTE) usage
basis) is 4.9 with other Federal internal costs being $1,060,000.
(ii) Proposed payments to Non-Federal Members are $540,000. There
are 32 members on the Parent Committee and 32 Subcommittees with more
than 1,000 consultant members who do not serve on the Parent Committee.
Subcommittee members are recruited based on the number and the research
focus of the applications received.
Non-Federal members receive up to $300/day of service.
(iii) Reimbursable costs are $0.00 non-applicable for the Board.
This Committee does not have any dollar value of grants expected for
the fiscal year.
Membership Selection--The Board members are selected based on
professional achievement and expertise in the research subject areas
needed. Board membership shall represent, to the extent possible,
diverse geographical backgrounds, Veterans of diverse eras, and
branches of service.
Existing Federal Advisory Committees--The following list of 27 VA
advisory committees includes 18 that are statute (with an asterisk *)
and 9 non-statutory committees.
(1) VA National Academic Affiliations Council
(* 2) Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials
(3) Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee
(* 4) Advisory Committee on Disability Compensation
(* 5) Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education
(* 6) Veterans' Advisory Committee on Environmental Hazards
(Administratively Inactive)
(* 7) Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War
[[Page 13406]]
(* 8) Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee
(* 9) Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
(10) Health Systems Research Service Merit Review Board
(* 11) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans
(12) Joint Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development and Clinical
Science Research and Development Services Scientific Merit Review Board
(* 13) Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans
(14) National Research Advisory Council
(* 15) Advisory Committee on U.S. Outlying Areas and Freely Associated
States
(* 16) Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special Disabilities
Programs
(* 17) Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans
(* 18) Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation
(19) Rehabilitation Research and Development Service Scientific Merit
Review Board
(20) Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee
(* 21) Special Medical Advisory Group
(* 22) Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of
Veterans Affairs Facilities
(* 23) Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
(24) Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Advisory Committee
(* 25) Veterans and Community Oversight and Engagement Board
(26) Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service National Advisory
Committee
(* 27) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
Justification--The review of biomedical research proposals requires
highly specialized expertise. The Broad and appropriate expertise can
only be obtained by recruiting experts both from within and outside of
the Federal Government.
Summary of Previous Committee Accomplishments--This FACA Scientific
Merit Review Board (SMRB) reviews and evaluates approximately 1,000
biomedical research proposals per year through its subcommittees. These
evaluations have assisted VA Office of Research Development (ORD) in
selecting the research projects most likely to lead to improvements in
Veteran health and healthcare. VA ORD funds approximately 20% of the
proposals it receives. This SMRB needs to continue its activities so VA
ORD can continue to benefit from expert evaluations when making funding
decisions.
Why Committee is Essential--The Joint Brain, Behavioral, and Mental
Health and Medical Health Scientific Merit Review Board provides expert
review of the scientific quality, budget, safety, and mission-relevance
of investigator-initiated research applications that are submitted for
VA merit review consideration and to offers advice for research program
officials on program priorities and policies. The applications the
Board reviews address research questions within the general area of
biomedical and behavioral research or clinical science research. VA
research is a statutory mandate under 38 U.S. Code Sec. 7303, Public
Law 117-328. VA Research priorities are further mandated by the Hannon
Act (traumatic brain injury), the PACT Act (military toxic exposures
and Gulf War Illness), the CARA act (Pain and opioid treatment), the
Cleland Dole Act (Precision Oncology), and the MISSION and Elizabeth
Dole Acts (community care). There is no other mechanism for VA to get
this expert advice.
In conclusion, this Notice of Intent states that this renewing
Board is in the public interest, essential to the conduct of agency
business and that the information provided is not available through any
other advisory committee or source within the Federal Government.
Dated: March 16, 2026.
LaTonya L. Small,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-05362 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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