NIH Library Board to Huddle on Grants, Half in Secret
Published Date: 1/20/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Library of Medicine’s Board of Scientific Counselors will meet on April 23-24, 2026, both in person and online. Parts of the meeting will be open to the public, while other parts will be closed to protect private info and trade secrets related to grant reviews. This meeting affects researchers and grant applicants, with no direct money changes but important discussions on investigator performance and programs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Open sessions videocast for public
The National Library of Medicine Board of Scientific Counselors will hold multiple open sessions on April 23–24, 2026. The open portions will be videocast and can be accessed at https://videocast.nih.gov/, and registration is not required to attend the open portions; individuals needing accommodations should contact the listed Contact Person in advance.
Closed sessions protecting grant privacy
Several portions of the April 23–24, 2026 meeting will be closed to review and evaluate personal qualifications, performance, and competence of individual investigators; closed times are scheduled (for example, April 23 10:20–11:05 a.m., 12:05–12:50 p.m., 2:05–2:50 p.m., 3:50–4:35 p.m.; April 24 9:45–10:30 a.m., 12:45–1:30 p.m.). These closed sessions are in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and (c)(6) to protect confidential trade secrets, patentable materials, commercial property, and personal information in grant applications.
Public comment submission deadline
Any member of the public may submit written comments no later than 15 days in advance of the April 23–24, 2026 meeting; comments should be sent to the Contact Person and must include name, address, telephone number, and when applicable, business or professional affiliation. The Contact Person is Michelle Krever, Extramural Programs, National Library of Medicine, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 500, Bethesda, MD 20892, phone 301-496-6132.
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