A. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology may use monies from the Research Support Revolving Fund to carry out the purposes of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology Act by awarding competitive health research funds, through professional service contracts, to institutions of higher education, nonprofit research foundations and private enterprises of special importance to the Oklahoma economy.

B. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, the Oklahoma Health Research Committee to be appointed by the Governor which shall consist of nine (9) members, no more than five nor less than three of whom shall be physicians licensed pursuant to the laws of this state. For the initial Committee, three members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; three members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years; and three members shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years. Thereafter members shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years. At all times the Committee shall be composed of at least:

1. One member from the clergy or who has an advanced degree in philosophy from an accredited institution of higher learning;

2. Five members who shall be basic health research scientists each having an established record of basic health science research accomplishment and a demonstrated interest in public service to represent the following areas: Epidemiology, public health or biometrics or psychology; biochemistry, anatomy or nutrition; microbiology, immunology or molecular biology; genetics, pathology, or pharmacology; biology or physiology; and

3. Three members who shall be clinical research scientists having an established record of clinical biomedical science research accomplishment and a demonstrated interest in public service to represent the clinical research disciplines.

The Health Research Committee as constituted prior to the effective date of this act shall be re-created within the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. Members of the Committee, formerly within the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, serving terms upon the effective date of this act shall continue to serve such terms.

Upon expiration of any term of office of the Health Research Committee, in making appointments to the Committee appropriate consideration shall be given to representation upon the Committee by race, gender and geographical area.

C. Any vacancy on the Committee shall be filled for the unexpired term within thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs.

D. No more than three members of the Committee shall have the same primary affiliation with an institution of higher learning or a nonprofit research institution.

E. A basic health research scientist or clinical research scientist shall not be eligible to become a member of the Committee unless said scientist is the inventor of one or more products which have earned more than Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) in royalties or other profit within the fifteen (15) years immediately preceding appointment or is the principal investigator for research grants awarded by national health research organizations for at least five (5) years during the fifteen (15) years immediately preceding appointment. Contractual commitments which have been made for a product or products shall qualify in meeting the royalty or profit requirement. Tentative commitments for future funding from national health research organizations shall satisfy the research grant requirement. Research grants awarded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, the Arthritis Foundation, the March of Dimes, and such other organizations that hold a peer-reviewed national competition for the distribution of research funds that the Committee deems acceptable from time to time shall satisfy the research grant requirement. Research grants which only may be awarded to investigators in this state shall not be used to satisfy the research grant time of support requirement. Service contracts or other grants which do not require submission of a research project or which are not funded competitively on the basis of scientific merit of the research project shall not satisfy the research grant time of support requirement.

F. Members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided by the board of directors of the Center.

G. The Committee shall elect from its membership a chair to serve a two-year term and such other officers from its membership as deemed necessary for the performance of the duties of the Committee. The Committee shall hold regular meetings not less than once a quarter and such additional meetings as called by the chair as may be required for the proper discharge of the duties of the Committee. Any action by the Committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of its members present. Five members shall constitute a quorum.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 222, § 29, operative July 1, 1987. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 288, § 7, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 279, § 5, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 143, § 3, emerg. eff. May 7, 1996; Laws 1998, c. 210, § 7, eff. July 1, 1998.

NOTE: Laws 1994, c. 287, § 8 repealed by Laws 1995, c. 279, § 9, eff. July 1, 1995.