Selection Criteria for NIH Advisory Committees

Thank you for yourinterestin NIHadvisory committees. Thebasiccriterion for membership on NIH committees is excellence in biomedical and behavioral researchand, for publicmembers, a demonstrated, activeinterest inthe mission of the committee. The Federal Advisory CommitteeAct (FACA) and a number of Federal regulations and policies govern NIH’s useandmanagementof its advisorycommittees.TheFACA requiresthatmembershipbe fairlybalancedintermsofpoints ofview representedand the functions to be performed by the advisorycommittee. Thereareoften other membership requirements for specific committees basedon statute, regulations, orpolicies. Consistent withlegal requirements, NIH strives toensureappropriate expertiseand also gives close attention to equitable distribution from different geographicregions of the United States as long as the effectiveness of the committee is not impaired.NIH endeavors to broadly recruit a pool of candidates for open membership positions.

Members of NIH’s scientificand technicalpeer review committees reviewgrant applications and contractproposals.NIHpeerreview committeesarenot policy-drivencommitteesanddonot influence the direction of Governmentpolicy.Theirmajorfocusis to determine thescientific meritof grant applications andcontract proposals. Members of thesecommittees areselectedbasedon expertisein the particularscientificareasfor whicha committeehasreview responsibilities.A principalrequirement for serving on a scientificand technical peer review committeeis competence as an independent investigatorin a scientificor clinical disciplineor researchspecialty. Assessment ofthis competence is basedon the quality of researchaccomplishments, publications in scientificjournals, and other significantscientific activities, achievements, andhonors. Usually, adoctoral degreeorits equivalent is required. Nonscientificmembers of the publicmay serveon scientificand technical reviewcommittees when their expertise or experience is appropriate.

Service on NIHadvisory committees alsodemands maturejudgment, balanced perspective, objectivity, and ability to work effectively in a group. Membership requirements alsoincludea commitmentto accomplish work assignments and, in appropriate circumstances, assurancethattheconfidentialityofapplications, proposals, discussions, and recommendations about applications and proposalswill be protected,as well as certification acknowledgingthey are freefromconflicts of interest.National advisorycouncilsand programadvisory committees provide the broad perspectivethat is essentialtobalanced and effectiveprograms, includingawareness ofand insight into therolesof various institutions engagedin biomedicalresearchandknowledge of what may best servethe health needs of the Americanpeopleand the world. Members of national advisory councils and program advisorycommitteesareselectedfor their competence,interest,andknowledge in thespecific Institute, Center,orOD officemission.Nationaladvisorycouncils are composedof outstandingleaders,andother members ofthepublic,with demonstratedinterests inthe healthprogram areas ofthe particular InstituteorCenter.They include notonly biomedical, behavioral, social and publichealthscientists but alsoleaders in such fields as law, economics, management, healthpolicy, and publicpolicy.Patients, relativesof patients,and advocateswho representtheconcernsofthe community may also be askedto serveon the committee. Themembership criteriarequired by law for most advisory councils consistof two-thirdsscientific andone-third publicrepresentatives.Thismixof membersbringstothe review and awardprocess diverse knowledgeand expertise in the relevant programmatic areas.

The nomination and selectionof members is amajor professional responsibility of each advisory committee’smanager.Theselectionprocessinvolves long-rangeplanning, andobtaining suggestions andinformation frommanydifferent sources.NIHdrawsupon numerous resourcestoselectsuitable nominees for membership, suchas:

  1. personalknowledge of boththe requireddiscipline and thescientistswhoare making significant researchcontributions to the field;
  2. reviewofNIHapplicantandgranteefilesaswellascurriculumvitaeandpublicationsofinvestigators;
  3. reviewofNIH’senterprise-widedatabasesystemandotherdatabasesforpotential nominees with specific expertise;
  4. reviewofmajorscientificjournalsandpublicationsinthe field;
  5. attendanceatrelevantprofessionalmeetings,thesemeetingsprovide a valuable methodofkeeping informed of significantnew studiesin the field and of identifyingtheinvestigatorswho aredoing the type of researchneeded;gainingknowledgeof the interestsandexpertiseof possible future members and consulting with eminent investigators whomay be potential members;
  6. solicitationofnamesintheFederalRegister;
  7. solicitationofnamesofoutstandinginvestigatorsfromformer andcurrent committee membersand other leaders in the field;
  8. consultationwith scientific and professional staffof the various NIHInstitutesandCentersaswellas the Office of the Director offices;
  9. reviewofmembershiprostersofpertinent professionalsocieties;and
  10. self-nominationsfrom qualifiedindividuals.

Inaddition,theNIHmaydeterminethatanindividualmaynotserveininitialpeerreview.

NIH’s advisorycommittees perform a uniqueserviceto the NIH and to the Department of Healthand Human Services. Members arean integralpart ofthepeer review process and provide invaluable expertiseand recommendations to national advisory councils and programadvisory committees. NIH provides remuneration to its committeemembers fortheseservices during the days they participatein meetings.Thisincludes honoraria,plus mealandtravelexpensesbasedonGovernment travelguidelines andrates

Youmaynominate yourselfbasedonthe criteriadiscussedinthis document or nominate other individualsbasedon their scientific expertise, experienceor interest.

Please submit curriculum vitae(s), or resumes to:

The Designated Federal Official and/or Committee Management Officer whose contact information may be found on the “ List of NIH Advisory Committees ” page or Patricia Brandt Hansberger, Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy at: patricia.hansberger@nih.gov .

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