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[June 2004]

  • Government Owned Invention for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notices in the Federal Register on June 28, 2004, of two inventions owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for US companies and may also be available for licensing:
    • International Patent Application No. 10/717,481 ``Externally-Powered Hand Prosthesis.''
    • International Patent Application No. 60/534,365 ``Mechanical Lateral Transfer Accessory to Patient Lifting Devices.''
    Contact: Robert W. Potts, Director Technology Transfer Program, Office of Research and Development (12TT), 810 of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail at bob.potts@mail.va.gov; fax: (202) 273-0473.

  • Government Owned Invention for Licensing - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on June 28, 2004, of an invention owned by the U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and available for licensing in accordance with 35 USC 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patents are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for US companies and may also be available for licensing:
    • International Patent Application No. 60/545,532 ``Method of Ameliorating or Abrogating the Effects of a Neurodegenerative Disorder, such as Huntington's Disease, by Sodium Butyrate Chemotherapy.''
    Contact: Robert W. Potts, Director Technology Transfer Program, Office of Research and Development (12TT), 810 of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail at bob.potts@mail.va.gov; fax: (202) 273-0473.

  • Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and Deployment Health Scientific Merit Review Board; Notice of Establishment - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 24, 2004 of the establishment of the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and Deployment Health Scientific Merit Review Board. The Board is expected to make recommendations that will improve the quality of VA research pertaining to the health consequences of participation in the Gulf War (Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 1990-July 1991) and other military deployments. Focused advice from subject matter experts on the Board will enhance the Department's efforts to restore the capabilities of veterans with deployment-related disabilities and to improve the quality of their lives by promoting their functional independence.
    The Board will advise VA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) leadership on the scientific merit, technical merit, and mission relevance of research pertaining to the health effects of participation in the Gulf War and other military deployments before and since that conflict. The Board will: (1) Review Gulf War veterans' illnesses and deployment health research and development proposals administered locally by VA facilities for scientific and technical merit; (2) prepare summary recommendations to ORDleadership on all proposals based upon independent review, Board discussions, and site visits, where necessary; and (3) advise ORDleadership regarding the status of Gulf War veterans' illnesses and deployment health research and development as applicable to the Board members' areas of expertise.

  • Chiropractic Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on June 22, 2004, that the Chiropractic Advisory Committee will meet at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Washington, DC, on July 13 - 14, 2004. The Committee will receive updates and briefings on the status of the recommendations to the Secretary, the chiropractic occupational study and qualification standard, the VHA performance measurement process; and the Committee will complete development of educational recommendations, and discuss of quality/program evaluation.
    Contact: Sara McVicker, RN, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; e-mail: sara.mcvicker@mail.va.gov; telephone: (202) 273-8559.

  • Sensori-neural Aids - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register, July 16, 2004, to amend an existing regulation which authorizes VA to provide sensori-neural aids (i.e., eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids) to seven specific groups of veterans identified in the regulation. The first four groups consist of veterans with the highest priority for care under VA's enrollment system, generally those with compensable service-connected disabilities, former prisoners of war, and those receiving increased VA pension based on their being housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance. Subsequent to promulgating the regulation, Congress changed the law to provide that veterans awarded the Purple Heart should have priority equal to former prisoners of war under VA's enrollment system. To be consistent, VA is proposing to amend the sensori-neural aids regulation to allow veterans in receipt of a Purple Heart to also receive sensori-neural aids.
    Comments Deadline: September 29, 2003. Address: Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Room 1154, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9289; or e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900- AL60.''

    Contact: Frederick Downs, Jr., Chief Consultant, Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service Strategic Healthcare Group (113), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. Telephone (202) 273-8515.

  • Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on July 8, 2004, that the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses will meet on February 23 - 24, 2004 in East Orange, NJ. The Committee will be briefed on a number of research presentations; there will be clinical presentations and a roundtable discussion; the Committee will also hear a presentation on ``Understanding the Biochemical Basis of Gulf War Illnesses'' by Sharon Mates, PhD, and Allen Feinberg, PhD, of Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc; and receive an update on recent research.
    Contact: Laura O'Shea, Designated Federal Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs (008A1), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 275-5031.

  • VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program; Religious Organizations - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on July 8, 2004, to revise provisions of the regulations concerning the VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program that apply to religious organizations that receive VA funds under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.
    Consistent with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the proposed rule removed the regulatory prohibition against religious organizations making employment decisions on a religious basis; as such organizations do not forfeit that exemption when administering VA-funded programs. Also, the proposed rule ensured that direct government funds are not used for inherently religious activities.
    Effective Date: July 8, 2004.
    Contact: Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL33617; toll-free telephone: 1-877-332-0334.

  • Enhanced-Use Lease Development of Property at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, OH - The Department of Veterans Affairs published a notice in the Federal Register on June 4, 2004, that the Secretary intends to designate 3.58 acres of land at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to be leased under an enhanced-use lease. The Department intends to enter into a 60-year lease of real property with a selected lessee/developer, who would be responsible for all costs and risks associated with the design, construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and provision of services to manage an affordable housing facility consisting of 166 units for veterans and non-veterans.
    Contact: Vanessa Chambers, Capital Asset Management and Planning Service (182C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-6554.

  • Board of Veterans' Appeals: Rules of Practice--Motions for Revision of Decisions on Grounds of Clear and Unmistakable Error: Advancement on the Docket - Department of Veterans Affairs published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 4, 2004, to affirm the interim final rule amending the Rules of Practice of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) relating to challenges to Board decisions on the grounds of ``clear and unmistakable error''. The amendment provides for advancing clear and unmistakable error motions on the docket.
    Effective Date: June 4, 2004.
    Contact: Steven L. Keller, Senior Deputy Vice Chairman, Board of Veterans' Appeals (01C), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 565-5978.

  • National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2004 - The President of the United States of America published a proclamation in the Federal Register on April 13, 2004 , to honor brave Americans who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of hardship and terror, and proclaiming April 9, 2004 as National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

  • Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; Notice of Meeting - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 7, 2004, that the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education will meet on January 28, 2003, in Washington, DC. The Committee agenda will include ethics training, review of pending legislation, equity issues for reserve components, electronic transmission of VA certification, and raising of reporting fees to certifying officials.
    Contact: Mr. Stephen Dillard or Mr. Michael Yunker, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Service (225B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-7187.

  •  Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone: (202) 273-5764.

 

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