FelCom - Liaisons

Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC)
Felcom Liaison:
The Director NIH has delegated authority to the Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) to effect compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies regarding the humane care and use of animals in the intramural research program. Dr. Michael M. Gottesman, Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) serves as the Institutional Official for the NIH Intramural Research Program. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Chairs constitute the Animal Research Advisory Committee (ARAC) which meets regularly and advises the DDIR on trans-NIH animal care and use issues.

Child Care Board
Felcom Liaison:
The NIH Child Care Board is charged with promoting affordable, accessible, quality day care for NIH employees and advises the NIH regarding child care services and policies. The Felcom liaison provides a conduit between the board and Felcom to make sure the board is aware of issues pertaining to NIH fellows, and to keep fellows abreast of the child care situation at NIH.

Foundation for Advanced Education in the SciencE (FAES)
Felcom Liaison:
FAES is a non-profit organization with a mission to foster and encourage scientific research and education, and to facilitate communication among scientists, by whatever means may be practical. FAES runs the Graduate Evening Program at NIH to permit members of the science and medical community to supplement laboratory training with advanced formal education. The Felcom liaison attends the two annual board meetings to report to Felcom any issues pertinent to NIH trainees and provides a conduit whereby fellows may communicate any concerns or issues through the Felcom liaison to the FAES Executive Director and/or Board.

Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC)
Felcom Liaison:
The GMEC is made up of the Program Directors for the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowships in the NIH Clinical Center and/or designated representatives. The GMEC meets monthly to address policy issues relevant to clinical training in accredited programs. The GMEC Felcom representative(s) attend all GMEC meetings and provide reports to FelCom detailing the content of meetings relevant to the NIH clinical fellows. The GMEC FelCom representative(s) will administer the Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award (DCTA) conferred annually. The award recognizes excellence in mentoring healthcare professionals, excellence in teaching about issues related to direct patient care and outstanding contributions to the advancement of clinical research.

Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP)
Felcom Liaison:
The Graduate Partnerships Program links the NIH with universities for graduate level training of students. Through university partnerships, NIH strengthens and expands its role as a provider of excellent training for the biomedical scientists of the future. The mission of the GPP is to establish and foster graduate education partnerships with national and international universities and institutions dedicated to quality education in both basic and clinical biomedical research while providing the infrastructure and community support needed by the students in these programs. For more information concerning graduate student issues please see the NIH Graduate Student Council homepage

Human Subjects Research Advisory Committee (HSRAC)
Felcom Liaison:
The Human Subjects Research Advisory Committee (HSRAC) meets every other month on Friday at 3:00. The HSRAC is responsible for advising the NIH Deputy Director for Intramural Research on the policies and procedures regarding the conduct of human subjects research in the NIH Intramural Research Program. The HSRAC is comprised of the Deputy Director for Intramural Research, who is the chair, the Director of the Office for Human Subjects Research, the 14 NIH IRB Chairs, the Director of the Clinical Center, and the Chief of the Clinical Center Department of Bioethics. The FelCom representative to the HSRAC must attend all meetings and report back any issues/concerns that are relevant to fellows at NIH.

Medical Executive Committee (MEC)
Felcom Liaison:
The Medical Executive Committee, comprised of the various clinical directors of the NIH intramural clinical research programs and other senior medical and administrative staff, advises the Clinical Center Director and develops policies governing standards of medical care in the Clinical Center. The Committee represents and acts for the Medical Staff and other clinical professionals in the Clinical Center, and enforces the rules and policies of the Clinical Center. The Felcom liaison attends all MEC meetings, representing the NIH fellows' interests and reports back to Felcom the content of the meeting pertinent to the NIH fellows.

National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)
Felcom Liaison:
The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) is a professional association that provides a unique, national voice for postdoctoral scholars. The NPA was founded in 2003, with an ambitious agenda to enhance the quality of the postdoctoral experience. Since its founding, the NPA has assumed a leadership role in addressing the many issues confronting the postdoc community that are national in scope, requiring action beyond the local level. Key alliances are being forged at all levels, and new standards and policies proposed by NPA are being considered and adopted by federal agencies and research institutions throughout the U.S.

The NIH Liaison to the NPA serves as connection between the NIH community and the NPA. Duties include: reporting on upcoming NPA activities and events, providing information to the NPA regarding NIH postdoctoral policies, and serving as the NIH's representative to the NPA.

Scientific Conduct & Ethics
Felcom Liaison:
The Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics is composed of a broad spectrum of scientists from the ICs. The committee was established in September 1995 with three charges:

• To develop and/or refine existing guidelines for the conduct of research, to develop procedures to protect both whistle blowers and scientists accused of scientific misconduct, and to develop a model for binding arbitration.

• To develop effective mechanisms for research ethics training for the NIH scientific community, including the ethics column in The NIH Catalyst.

• To develop a course to train principal investigators in leadership, mentoring, and handling of conflict skills

Training Directors
Felcom Liaison:
Felcom's NIH Training Director's Committee representative represents the NIH postdoc community during the semi-monthly meeting of the Institute training directors. They are to report to Felcom any policies and issues that the Training Directors discuss and provide postdoctoral input to the Training Directors

Women Scientist AdvisorS (WSA)
Felcom Liaison:
In 1991, Dr. Bernadine Healy, Director of NIH, established a Task Force to examine the status of intramural women scientists. The Task Force, which included 15 intramural scientists and was chaired by Dr. Hynda Kleinman, issued a final report in November 1992. Among the recommendations was that each IC should have a Woman Scientist Advisor (WSA). These recommendations were unanimously approved by the Scientific Directors at their meeting of November 4, 1992.

The activities of the IC-specific WSA include holding regular meetings with the Scientific Director in order to advise him/her about issues relevant to women scientists; attending Lab/Branch Chief meetings to serve as a representative of women scientists; informing the Institute's women scientists on issues which will affect them and solicit their opinions; organize meetings for the women scientists to discuss issues of general concern or to present programs of general interest; serve on IC tenure-track, tenured scientist, or lab/branch chief search committees; attend monthly WSA committee meetings where issues of concern to all NIH women scientists are discussed. Additionally, the WSA Committee organizes and promotes a lecture series featuring NIH intramural women scientists.