Half-Secret Environmental Health Meeting: What's Being Hidden?
Published Date: 12/5/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is holding a mixed in-person and virtual meeting from February 8-10, 2026, with some parts open to the public and others closed to protect private info and trade secrets. Scientists, grant applicants, and the public are affected, especially those interested in environmental health research updates and funding decisions. The open sessions will be streamed online, making it easy to join and stay informed without spending a dime.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Open Sessions Are Videocast Free
The meeting’s open sessions on February 9–10, 2026 will be videocast and can be accessed from the NIH Videocasting and Podcasting website. You can watch the open parts online without paying or registering for the meeting.
No Registration Required For Open Portion
Registration is not required to attend the meeting’s open portion in person. You can attend the open sessions in person at NIEHS (Rodbell Auditorium, Research Triangle Park, NC) without pre-registering.
How Public Comments Are Handled
Anyone may submit written comments to the committee by sending a statement to the listed Contact Person. If you want to present oral comments, you must notify the Contact Person at least 10 days before the meeting; organizations may send one representative and presentations may be limited to five minutes.
Closed Sessions Protect Confidential Info
Portions of the meeting (various times on February 8–10, 2026) will be closed to protect confidential trade secrets, patentable material, and personal information in grant applications and contract proposals. Grant applicants and contract proposers will have those discussions kept private.
On-Site Security And ID Requirements
Visitors attending meetings on campus will be subject to NIH security procedures: visitor vehicles will be inspected and visitors must show one form of ID (for example, a government photo ID, driver’s license, or passport) and state their purpose for the visit. These procedures apply for entrance to on-campus and off-campus facilities.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16683, Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request; Data Use Certification for the NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse Data Share Site
The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the information collection requirement for the NIDA Data Share, the data use terms and conditions, and to request a progress report statement at the time of renewal. In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to provide opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
2026-16544, Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research for the benefit of the public health.
2026-16440, NIH Owned Invention Available for License: Soluble Tissue Factor, a Novel Target, and Antibodies, for Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Thrombosis and Related Conditions
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have discovered a novel therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic target for thrombosis: Soluble Tissue Factor (sTF). NCI has generated first-in- class antibodies and platform selectively neutralizing pathological coagulation while preserving normal hemostasis. This platform technology can be used to prevent, diagnose and treat pathological thrombosis caused by a variety of clinical conditions-including cancer, sepsis, infectious diseases (e.g., COVID), autoimmune disorders, trauma, heart conditions and inflammatory conditions. It offers a much more sensitive and specific test of thrombosis than the current D-dimer test. It may be applicable to any clinical condition which induces necroptosis, pyroptosis and NETtosis, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease, ischemia-reperfusion and acute injuries, traumatic injuries, bacterial and viral infections, cardiovascular conditions, and atherosclerosis, inflammatory, autoimmune conditions, and others.
2026-16071, Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request: The Impact of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education at the Clinical Center on Physician Careers in Academia and Clinical Research (Clinical Center)
In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Clinical Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
2026-15565, Proposed Collection; 60-Day Comment Request, Data Use Certification for the NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Data Hub, (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to provide opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The purpose of this revision is to update instructions for the Research Data Use Statement and the Progress Report, and to add new instructions for attesting to National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) security compliance, and for a Project Close-out at the time of project completion. Burden levels remain unchanged.
2026-14966, Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
The National Institutes of Health is offering a new Ebola vaccine invention for companies to license and develop quickly. This vaccine targets the Bundibugyo virus and promises fast and lasting protection, helping stop outbreaks in Central Africa. Businesses interested in licensing should act soon to bring this life-saving tech to market and can contact NIH for details.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-22028, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The NIH’s Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on January 21-22, 2026, to review grant applications related to healthcare quality and effectiveness. These meetings are private to protect sensitive info like trade secrets and personal details. Researchers applying for grants should note this important review step, but no new costs or deadlines are introduced.
Next: 2025-22031, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The NIH’s Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on January 20-21, 2026, to review important grant applications about digestive and kidney health. These meetings are private to protect secret research ideas and personal info. Scientists applying for grants should note this schedule as it impacts funding decisions but doesn’t change any deadlines or money amounts.