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In accordance with Title 41 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Section 102-3.65(a), notice is hereby given that the charter for the Fogarty International Center Advisory Board (FICAB) is being renewed for an additional two-year period on August 31, 2026.
It is determined that the FICAB is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the National Institutes of Health by law, and that these duties can best be performed through the advice and counsel of this group.
The Public Interest Determination follows:
Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.60(a), to establish, renew, reestablish, or merge a discretionary (agency discretion) advisory committee, an agency must first consult with the General Services Administration's Committee Management Secretariat (the Secretariat) and, as part of the consultation, provide a written public interest determination approved by the head of the agency to the Secretariat with a copy to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.35, an agency shall follow the same consultation process and document in writing the same determination of need before creating a subcommittee under a discretionary committee that is not made up entirely of members of a parent advisory committee.
Information on the following factors for the committee is provided to the Secretariat to demonstrate that renewing the committee is in the public interest:
1. Annual budget: The annual budget for the committee is $151,338.
a. Federal personnel on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis: Federal personnel (based on full-time equivalent (FTE) usage basis) and other Federal internal costs. The estimated annual person years of staff support are .7 at an estimated cost of $130,780.
b. Other Federal internal costs: The estimate for other Federal internal costs is 0.
c. Proposed payments to members: The estimated payment for non-Federal members is $6,400 and the estimated prorated salary for Federal members is $3,740.
d. Proposed number of members: The Board will consist of not more than 13 members appointed by the Secretary and the following nonvoting ex officio members: the Directors of 2 NIH institutes or centers with active international programs and any additional officers or employees of the United States as the Secretary determines necessary for the Board to effectively carry out its functions.
e. Reimbursable costs: The estimate for reimbursable costs, including members' travel expenses, is $10,418.
2. If applicable, the total dollar value of grants expected to be recommended during the fiscal year:
During the FY25 reporting period, FICAB reviewed 143 applications for programs, requesting $52,043,864. NIH is unable to project an amount as the number of awards made are contingent on a variety of factors, such as annual appropriations, number of applications received, NIH research priorities, etc.
3. Criteria for selecting members to ensure the committee has the necessary expertise and fairly balanced membership:
The Board shall consist of not more than 13 members appointed by the Secretary and Federal ex officio members. Non-Federal members must be eligible to serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) and will serve as SGEs, as defined by 18 U.S.C. 202.
The Chair of the Board will be selected by the Secretary from among the appointed members, except that the Secretary may select the Director, FIC, to be the Chair.
The term of office of the Chair will be two years.
Of the 13 appointed members, 10 shall be selected from among the leading representatives of the health and scientific disciplines relevant to the activities of the FIC, particularly representatives of the biomedical and behavioral fields, such as molecular and cellular biology, neurosciences, basic physiology, epidemiology, immunology, nutrition, public health, economics, and demography. Three members shall be appointed by the Secretary from the general public and shall include leaders in the fields of health-related enterprises such as pharmaceutical or life insurance companies, voluntary organizations committed to betterment of public health, international health, and international health law.
Non-Federal members will be invited to serve for overlapping four-year terms, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term will be appointed for the remainder of that term. The Secretary shall make appointments in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the appointed members do not all expire in the same year. An appointed member may serve 180 days after the expiration of that member's term if a successor has not taken office. A member who has been appointed for a term of four years may not be reappointed to this Board before two years from the date of expiration of that member's term of office.
Nonvoting ex officio members will include the Directors of 2 NIH institutes or centers with active international programs and any additional officers or employees of the United States as the Secretary determines necessary for the Board to effectively carry out its functions.
4. List of all other Federal advisory committees of the agency:
5. Justification that the information or advice provided by the Federal advisory committee or subcommittee is not available from another Federal advisory committee, another Federal Government source, or any other more cost-effective and less burdensome source:
FICAB provides expert advice in global health research, training, international collaboration, and research capacity strengthening that is not available from other Federal Advisory Committees or government sources. FIC Advisory Board members bring specialized scientific expertise and extensive experience working internationally and conducting global research. There is no comparable committee with the unique combination of expertise in research and global health. The independent expertise of the Board strengthens FIC's global health research and training activities and helps to ensure these activities align with U.S. and NIH health, security, and scientific policies and goals.
The costs to convene FICAB are described in response to item #1. The Board conducts the statutorily required second-level review of grant applications, ensuring appropriate evaluation of funding recommendations following initial peer review. This grant review cannot be conducted through more cost-effective or less burdensome alternative mechanisms.
6. If the consultation is a committee renewal, a summary of the previous accomplishments of the committee and the reasons it needs to continue:
FIC's uniquely international mission requires external expertise to support sound decision-making, responsible use of public funds, and alignment with U.S. priorities. The Board has played a key role in shaping FIC's strategic direction, program priorities, and funding decisions. Its guidance has helped to ensure that FIC's portfolio remains rigorous, relevant, and aligned with NIH and HHS priorities. The Board has also provided advice to shape NIH global research that has helped position the U.S. as a global leader in biomedical research.
7. Explanation of why the committee/subcommittee is essential to the conduct of agency business:
FIC is essential to agency operations because it fulfills the required second-level review of FIC grant applications, as required under section 492 of the PHS Act. The Board also provides critical advice to the NIH Director and FIC Director on scientific, programmatic, and policy matters related to global health research. The Board advises on research investments and international collaborations that strengthen global capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging health threats, thereby supporting U.S. health security. It also provides insight on program design and performance to ensure FIC's initiatives promote scientific excellence and responsible oversight of federal resources. This independent guidance ensures that FIC's portfolio aligns with U.S. health, security, and scientific policies and goals to make America safer, stronger and more prosperous.
In conclusion, this public interest determination documents that renewing the committee is in the public interest, essential to the conduct of agency business, and that the information to be obtained is not already available through another advisory committee or source within the Federal Government.
Inquiries may be directed to Patricia Brandt Hansberger, Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 1000, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 (Mail code 4875), Telephone (301) 496-2123, or patricia.hansberger@nih.gov.
Dated: August 4, 2026.
Margaret N. Vardanian,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2026-16257 Filed 8-7-26; 8:45 am]
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