[Federal Register: April 1, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 61)]
[Notices]
[Page 14805]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap09-53]
[[Page 14805]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Request for Nominations for AHRQ Study Section Members
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Request for nominations for public members.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with Title IX of the Public Health Service Act,
the authorizing legislation for AHRQ and its grant and contract
regulations pertaining to Peer Review of Grant and Contracts 42 CFR
Part 67, applications submitted to the AHRQ will be evaluated using the
AHRQ peer review process to ensure a fair, equitable, and unbiased
evaluation of their scientific and technical merit. The initial peer
review of grant applications involves an assessment conducted by panels
of experts established to include pertinent scientific disciplines and
medical specialty areas. The confidential part of the peer review
meetings devoted to critical evaluations will be closed meetings in
accordance with section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act as
amended (5 U.S.C., Appendix 2).
AHRQ is seeking nominations to fill approximately 20 to 30 percent
of its study section membership, across the following study sections:
(1) Health System Research (HSR),
(2) Health Care Technology and Decision Sciences (HCTDS),
(3) Health Care Quality and Effectiveness Research (HCQER), and
(4) Health Care Research Training (HCRT).
The primary research foci and functions of these four study
sections are described on the AHRQ Web site (http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/
peerrev/peerdesc.htm).
Individuals from the health services research and health care
community who could serve as peer reviewers in our study sections are
sought to replace study section members whose terms have expired. In
sending your nomination, please specify the nominee's professional/
scientific/technical expertise, affiliations and full contact
information, if this information is available.
Factors that will be considered in the selection of individuals to
serve on study sections include: competence in a scientific, technical
or clinical discipline or research specialty, particularly in health
services research, fairness and evenhandedness in judgment and review,
ability to work effectively in a group context, commitment to complete
work assignments, adequacy of representations of women, racial and
ethnic minority populations, and geographic diversity.
DATES: AHRQ would like to receive your recommendations no later than
Friday, May 1, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Please direct your correspondence to: Kishena C. Wadhwani,
PhD., M.P.H., Director, Division of Scientific Review (DSR), Office of
Extramural Research, Education and Priority Populations (OEREP), Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), 540 Gaither Road, Room 2032, Rockville, MD
20850, Phone: (301) 427-1556, Fax: (301) 427-1562, e-mail:
Kishena.Wadhwani@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Currently, AHRQ has one chartered Health Services Research Initial
Review Group (IRG) responsible for the peer review of research and
training grant applications submitted for funding consideration. The
IRG is to advise the Director of the Agency on matters related to
scientific and technical merit of research grant proposals to improve
the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for
all Americans.
This IRG is currently comprised of four subcommittees or study
sections, each with a particular research focus around which peer
reviewer's expertise is assembled. These study sections convene three
times per year to review the grant applications submitted to the three
different submission cycles. Study section members are appointed for up
to a maximum of four years.
Dated: March 24, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
AHRQ, Director.
[FR Doc. E9-7070 Filed 3-31-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P