Notice2026-05363
Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
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) Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee 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 13404-13405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05363]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Cooperative Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee
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) Cooperative
Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee 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#09436c6f6f7b6c702744667b686e676c497f68276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d09ab5b6b6a2b5a9fe9dbfa2b1b7beb590a6b1feb7bfa6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee
ACT, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs intends to renew the Cooperative
Studies Scientific Evaluation Committee (CSSEC or Committee) for two
(2) years from the filing date of the charter's renewal. The purpose of
the Committee is to review proposed and ongoing cooperative studies and
multi-site clinical research activities (including clinical trials,
epidemiological studies, and related efforts) and advises VA on
scientific merit, feasibility, the adequacy of the plan of
investigation, related activities and requested resources, technical
details including the involvement of human subjects, and mission
relevance. The Committee further evaluates and discusses written
materials supplied by the proponents of each project as part of its
review.
Also in pursuant to 41 CFR Sec. 102-3.65, the Department of
Veterans Affairs provides this written notice determination stating
that the CSSEC 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 the Committee is
$35,000. 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 Committee. The expected
costs are broken into:
(i) Federal personnel (based on full-time equivalent (FTE) usage
basis) is 0.1 with other Federal internal costs being $14,850.
(ii) Proposed payments to Non-Federal Members is $2,500. Payments
to Federal Members are $7,250 and to consultants is $900. The Committee
is composed of up to 12 members who may be Regular Government Employees
or Special Government Employees.
(iii) Reimbursable costs equate to travel reimbursement for Non-
Federal Members is $2,500, for Federal Members is $4,500 and for
Federal Staff is $2,500.
This Committee does not have any dollar value of grants expected
for the fiscal year.
Membership Selection--The Committee is composed of members having
experience and expertise in major medical specialties and disciplines,
including biostatistics and epidemiology, and selected based on
professional expertise and achievement in clinical research. Committee
membership represents and considers the required technical skills in VA
positions or other Federal positions, along with diverse geographical
backgrounds and Veterans of different eras and branches to the extent
possible. The Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) staff also submits
recommendations to the VA Chief Research and Development Officer
(CRADO) for nominees to be considered for appointments at CSSEC.
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
(* 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
[[Page 13405]]
(* 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--There is no other committee (in the Federal
Government or elsewhere) which is specifically selected based on its
multi-disciplinary makeup directly related to cooperative clinical
research among the VA patient population and qualified to review the
scientific merit of submissions for related multi-center clinical
studies and research activities.
Summary of Previous Committee Accomplishments--Since FY 2003, the
CSSEC has made 177 recommendations to VA on the scientific merit of
proposals for multi-center clinical studies and research activities. In
doing so, the Committee has advanced landmarks, definitive clinical
trials and observational studies in cardiovascular disease, infectious
disease, surgery, gastroenterology, mental health, oncology, and
endocrinology improving the health and well-being of Veterans and the
nation.
Why Committee is Essential--Peer review of research proposals by
the external subject matter experts on this committee is a critical
element of the VA's Research program. 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). The CSSEC provides expert advice on VA cooperative
studies, which includes multi-site clinical trials and other large
multi-site clinical research activities, and policies related to
conducting and managing these efforts. Such advice is to ensure that
new and ongoing clinical trials/research sponsored by VA meets the
highest standards of scientific merit, mission relevance, and quality,
and is conducted safely, efficiently, and economically. There is no
other mechanism for VA to get this expert advice.
In conclusion, this Notice of Intent states that this renewing
committee 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. 2026-05363 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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