§10–4D–04.

    (a)    The Corporation shall contract with an independent scientific review board composed of recognized scientific experts in the field of human–relevant animal testing alternatives to act as the Human–Relevant Research Review Board.

    (b)    The Board shall:

        (1)    review, evaluate, rank, and rate research proposals for State–funded, human–relevant animal testing alternatives research:

            (i)    based on the procedures and guidelines established by the Corporation; and

            (ii)    in a manner that gives due consideration to the scientific, medical, and ethical implications of the research; and

        (2)    based on the rankings and ratings awarded to the research proposals by the Board, make recommendations to the Corporation for the award and disbursement of grants and loans.

    (c)    A member of the Board:

        (1)    is not eligible to receive a grant or loan for State–funded, human–relevant research from the Fund; and

        (2)    shall be subject to conflict of interest standards that are at least as stringent as the standards on conflict of interest adopted by the federal National Institutes of Health.