The Laboratory Assessments Board (LAB) oversees National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine activities involving review and assessment of the technical quality of internal research conducted at laboratories. This includes principally those laboratories established by federal agencies at national laboratories and at government-owned, contractor-operated facilities, but may include others as well. Assessments are performed by National Academies committees appointed under the auspices of the board and established separately for each institution and/or laboratory to be reviewed.

The LAB performs the following functions, which help to coordinate and assure the quality of the assessment processes and increase the confidence that the assessments meet the needs of the sponsoring agencies: support the preparation of responsive proposals; interact with sponsor representatives to help formulate project and task descriptions; assist with the recruitment of appropriate panel/committee members and report reviewers; participate in the quality assurance for assessments; liaison with other National Academies committees and boards; and assist the LAB director to identify and pursue opportunities to perform assessments for additional sponsoring agencies.

The role of the LAB involves planning, program development, and, as appropriate, project oversight. The LAB will not be used in the development of any report or any advice or recommendations.