United States Department of Veterans Affairs
R&D HOME » RESOURCES » FRAC

Field Research Advisory Committee (FRAC)

Overview

The purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs Field Research Advisory Committee (FRAC) is to:

  • promote communication between the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and investigators in the field,
  • provide input on issues relevant to VA research, and
  • participate in strategic planning.

The purview of FRAC includes all research sponsored and/or conducted by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Office of Research and Development. The Deputy Under Secretary for Health established this committee on May 27, 2004 – see Dr. Perlin's 5/27/04 memo to the ACOS (161 KB, PDF). The FRAC approved Operating Procedures at its meeting on July 9, 2004.

top

Organization

The FRAC is designed to broadly represent the field of VA researchers. It consists of key representatives from the field as well as VACO staff. Representatives are elected for 3-year terms, with one-third of the field membership rotating off annually. The FRAC meets on a quarterly basis, with minutes published for distribution to the field.

In order to facilitate better communication among the five ACOS/R&D representatives on the FRAC, a quarterly conference call is held prior to each quarterly meeting to discuss issues. The five ACOS/R&D representatives are responsible for establishing and maintaining communication networks within their respective regions.

Field Research Representatives:

  • Five ACOS/R&D -- one from each of the five geographic regions recognized by the Office of Research Oversight (ORO), -- are elected by their peers.
  • The following additional field representatives, also elected by their peers within the subset they represent, including:
    • One director of a Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence
    • One director of a Health Services R&D Center of Excellence
    • One study chairman from among all studies funded by the Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)
    • One non-clinician Ph.D. scientist from among all Research Career Scientists and Senior Research Career Scientists

VACO ORD Staff Represenatives:

  • Chief Research and Development Officer (CRADO)
  • Deputy CRADO
  • Directors of the four research services:
    • Biomedical Laboratory R&D Service (BLR&D)
    • Clinical Science R&D Service (CSR&D)
    • Health Services R&D Service (HSR&D)
    • Rehabilitation R&D Service (RR&D)

top

Membership

FRAC Regions

  • Mid-Atlantic Region — VISNs 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
        Christopher Bever, M.D. (Baltimore), christopher.bever@va.gov

  • Midwestern Region — VISNs: 11, 12, 15, 19, 23
        Larry Meyer, M.D., Ph.D. (Salt Lake City), laurence.meyer@va.gov

  • Northeastern Region — VISNs: 1, 2, 3
        Robert Swift, M.D., Ph.D. (Providence), robert.swift@va.gov

  • Southern Region — VISNs: 7, 8, 16, 17
        Michael Hart, M.D. (Atlanta), michael.hart3@va.gov

  • Western Region — VISNs: 18, 20, 21, 22
        Dean Yamaguchi, M.D., Ph.D. (Los Angeles), dean.yamaguchi@va.gov

Other Field Representatives

VACO Staff

 

Office of Research and Development Contact Information:
Laurie Barnaby, M.B.A.
Phone: (202) 443-5718
Email: laurie.barnaby@va.gov

Angela Whatley, Ph.D.
Phone: (202) 443-5621
Email: angela.whatley@va.gov

top