According to a Federal Register notice, a special panel of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is set to meet on November 4, 2014 to consider whether to continue funding for the Gulf War Biorepository.
The project has been fraught with challenges. Initially, the project was announced at a public meeting of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illness (RACGWVI, or RAC) as a biorepository for Gulf War samples, but upon implementation was an ALS brain bank. Eventually, this new project was announced, focused on Gulf War veterans, but only as a pilot project.
A portion of the November 4th meeting is open to the public, though VA will not allow any oral public comment.
For more information on this biorepository, see: http://www.research.va.gov/programs/tissue_banking/gwvib/
Special thanks to Gulf War veteran and longstanding advocate Kirt Love for locating and sharing this Federal Register notice, which is posted in its entirety below.
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SOURCE: Federal Register, Sep. 29, 2014
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/29/2014-23160/biomedical-laboratory-research-and-development-service-special-emphasis-panel-gulf-war-veterans
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 2014)] [Notices] [Pages 58431-58432] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2014-23160]
Notice
Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development Service, Special Emphasis Panel-Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository, Notice of Meeting
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., that the Special Emphasis Panel—Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository will meet on November 4, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the AAAE Conference Center, 601 Madison Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA. The panel meeting will be open to the public for approximately one-half hour at the start of the meeting to discuss the general status of the project. The remaining portion of the meeting will be closed to the public for the review, discussion, and evaluation of the research project to be performed for VA. The closed portion of the meeting involves discussion, examination, reference to staff and consultant critiques of the research proposal. As provided by subsection 10(d) of 92, as amended, closing portions of a panel meeting is in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(6) and (9)(B).
The purpose of this Special Emphasis Panel is to review the Veterans Affairs Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository for its continued funding. The Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository is a project of high programmatic importance to VA. The Special Emphasis Panel will review activities related to the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository including the significance of the biorepository, along with some other key areas such as innovation, environment, feasibility, and protection of human subjects.
No time will be allocated at this meeting for receiving oral presentations from the public. Those who plan to attend or would like to obtain a copy of minutes of the panel meeting and roster of the participants of the panel should contact Dr. Victor Kalasinsky, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC, or by email at victor.kalasinsky@va.gov. Any member of the public wishing to attend the meeting or seeking additional information should contact Dr. Kalasinsky at (202) 443-5682.
Dated: September 24, 2014.
Rebecca Schiller,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-23160 Filed 9-26-14; 8:45 am]
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SOURCE: Federal Register
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