Advisory
 

Science changes rapidly. Making sure that study sections change with the science is an ongoing challenge. CSR ENQUIRE integrates data and input from multiple stakeholders to determine whether changes in study section focus or scope are needed to facilitate the identification of high impact science, with special consideration of emerging science.


Words from Dr. Noni Byrnes, CSR Director

ENQUIRE Overview

Science-based
Clusters of study sections are formed based on scientific topics (instead of CSR managerial units) for review via ENQUIRE

Systematic, data-driven, continuous process
~20% of CSR study sections are evaluated each year, every study section evaluated every 5 years

Stakeholder input and involvement
External scientific community, extramural programs at NIH, CSR staff

Iterative Approach
Continuous refinement of the process based on experience

Critical to success
Matching referral of applications and reviewer expertise to redefined scientific scope of study sections

CSR enquire icon

Multiple Possible Actions Follow

  • Change in scientific guidelines
  • Merge study sections
  • Create new study sections
  • Redistribute areas across study sections
  • Add emerging areas of science
  • Eliminate study sections

 Cluster Formation

 How? Determined by science, not management structure - 9-12 study sections in each cluster

 External Scientific Evaluation Panel

 Who? Scientifically broad, senior scientists provided with:
  • current scientific guidelines
  • sample abstracts & aims
  • data on workload trends, bibliometric output, ESI submission and success rates
 Asked: How well does the scope of the study sections align with the current state of the science?

 Internal Process Evaluation Panel

 Who? NIH extramural staff with broad perspective
  • workload data
  • scoring trends
  • survey feedback from reviewers & program officers
  • site-visit information on meeting function
  • External Scientific Working Group’s report
 Asked: Does the study section function in a way that supports optimal identification of high-impact science?

 Approvals

  • CSR Advisory Council
  • NIH Office of the Director

 Implementation by CSR

  • Test practicality of new guidelines through mock application referral
  • Reassignment of standing study section members to fit guidelines of new study sections
  • Publicize new study sections to the community
  • Monitor referral & adherence to new guidelines

Clusters Evaluated via ENQUIRE

Clusters Evaluated via ENQUIRE in 2022

Drug Synthesis, Discovery, Disposition, and Xenobiotics

Study Sections Evaluated (14)

  • Cancer Etiology CE
  • Drug Discovery for the Nervous System DDNS
  • Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance DDR
  • Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology DMP
  • Developmental Therapeutics DT
  • Gene and Drug Delivery Systems GDD
  • Nanotechnology NANO
  • Synthetic and Biological Chemistry A SBCA
  • Synthetic and Biological Chemistry B SBCB
  • Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure SIEE
  • Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action XNDA
  • Topics in Bacterial Pathogenesis ZRG1 AIDC (82)
  • Eukaryotic Pathogen Drug Discovery and Resistance ZRG1 AIDC (83)
  • PAR Panel: High Throughput Screening ZRG1 BST-F (55)

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Study Sections Evaluated (10)

  • Bacterial Pathogenesis BACP
  • Host Interactions with Bacterial Pathogens HIBP
  • Immunity and Host Defense IHD
  • Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology PCMB
  • Pathogenic Eukaryotes PTHE
  • Vector Biology VB
  • Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases VMD
  • Virology - A VIRA
  • Virology - B VIRB
  • Topics in Bacterial Pathogenesis ZRG1 IIDA-B 80

Epidemiology and Population Sciences

Study Sections Evaluated (9)

  • Behavioral Genetics and Epidemiology BGES
  • Biostatistical Methods and Research Design BMRD
  • Cancer, Heart, and Sleep Epidemiology Panel A CHSA
  • Cancer, Heart, and Sleep Epidemiology Panel B CHSB
  • Clinical Research and Field Studies of Infectious Diseases CRFS
  • Genetics of Health and Disease GHD
  • Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions IRAP
  • Kidney, Nutrition, Obesity and Diabetes KNOD
  • Neurological, Aging and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology NAME

Oncology

Study Sections Evaluated (10)

  • Cancer Molecular Pathobiology CAMP
  • Cancer Biomarkers CBSS
  • Cancer Immunopathology and Immunotherapy CII
  • Clinical Oncology CONC
  • Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics - 1 MCT1
  • Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics - 2 MCT2
  • Molecular Oncogenesis MONC
  • Tumor Cell Biology TCB
  • Tumor Microenvironment TME
  • Tumor Progression and Metastasis TPM

Clusters Evaluated via ENQUIRE in 2021

Molecular and Cellular Basic Sciences

Study Sections Evaluated (16)

  • Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes BBM
  • Biophysics of Neural Systems BPNS
  • Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems CSRS
  • Membrane Biology and Protein Processing MBPP
  • Molecular Genetics A MGA
  • Molecular Genetics B MGB
  • Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction MIST
  • Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling MNPS
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function A MSFA
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function B MSFB
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function C MSFC
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function D MSFD
  • Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Structure/Function and Dynamics NCSD
  • Neurotransporters, Receptors, and Calcium Signaling NTRC
  • Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology PCMB
  • Synapses, Cytoskeleton and Trafficking SYN

Resulting Study Sections (12)

  • Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes BBM
  • Cell Structure and Function-1 CSF-1
  • Cell Structure and Function-2 CSF-2
  • Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems CSRS
  • Molecular Cellular Neuropharmacology MCNP
  • Molecular Genetics MG
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function A MSFA
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function B MSFB
  • Macromolecular Structure and Function C MSFC
  • Neuronal Communications NC
  • Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology PCMB
  • Receptor Biology and Signal Transduction RBST

Clusters Evaluated via ENQUIRE in 2019

Healthcare Delivery/Patient Outcomes

Study Sections Evaluated (9)

  • Biomedical Computing and Health Informatics BCHI
  • Behavioral Medicine: Interventions and Outcomes BMIO
  • Community-Level Health Promotion CLHP
  • Clinical Management of Patients in Community-based Settings CMPC
  • Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health DIRH
  • Health Disparities and Equity Promotion HDEP
  • Health Services Organization and Delivery HSOD
  • Nursing and Related Clinical Sciences NRCS
  • Psychosocial Risk and Disease Prevention PRDP

Resulting Study Sections (11)

  • Biobehavioral Medicine and Health Outcomes BMHO
  • Clinical Data Management and Analysis CDMA
  • Clinical Informatics and Digital Health CIDH
  • Clinical Management in General Health Care Settings CMGC
  • Healthcare and Health Disparities HHD
  • Health Promotion in Communities HPC
  • Health Services: Quality and Effectiveness HSQE
  • Interdisciplinary Clinical Care in Specialty Care Settings ICSC
  • Lifestyle Change and Behavioral Health LCBH
  • Organization and Delivery of Health Services ODHS
  • Science of Implementation in Health and Healthcare SIHH

GI, Renal, Endocrine Systems

Study Sections Evaluated (11)

  • Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity CADO
  • Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity CIDO
  • Clinical, Integrative and Molecular Gastroenterology CIMG
  • Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology GMPB
  • Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology HBPP
  • Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes INMP
  • Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes IPOD
  • Kidney Molecular Biology and Genitourinary Organ Development KMBD
  • Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology MCE
  • Pathobiology of Kidney Disease PBKD
  • Urology and Urogynecology ZRG1 DKUS 90

Resulting Study Sections (10)

  • Basic Mechanisms of Diabetes and Metabolism BMDM
  • Cell Signaling and Molecular Endocrinology CSME
  • Digestive System Host Defense, Microbial Interactions and Immune and Inflammatory Disease DHMI
  • Digestive and Nutrient Physiology and Diseases DNPD
  • Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology HBPP
  • Human Studies of Diabetes and Obesity HSDO
  • Kidney and Urological Systems Function and Dysfunction KUFD
  • Nutrition and Metabolism in Health and Disease NMHD
  • Pathobiology of Kidney Disease PBKD
  • Pathophysiology of Obesity and Metabolic Disease POMD

Cardiac, Vascular and Hematologic Sciences

Study Sections Evaluated (10)

  • Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System AICS
  • Cardiac Contractility, Hypertrophy, and Failure CCHF
  • Clinical and Integrative Cardiovascular Sciences CICS
  • Electrical Signaling, Ion Transport, and Arrhythmias ESTA
  • Hemostasis and Thrombosis HT
  • Hypertension and Microcirculation HM
  • Molecular and Cellular Hematology MCH
  • Myocardial Ischemia and Metabolism MIM
  • Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology VCMB
  • Transfusion Medicine Sep ZRG1 VH-D 55

Resulting Study Sections (8)

  • Atherosclerosis and Vascular Inflammation AVI
  • Basic Biology of Blood, Heart and Vasculature BBHV
  • Clinical Integrative Cardiovascular and Hematological Sciences CCHS
  • Hemostasis, Thrombosis, Blood Cells and Transfusion HTBT
  • Integrative Vascular Physiology and Pathology IVPP
  • Integrative Myocardial Physiology/Pathophysiology A MPPA
  • Integrative Myocardial Physiology/Pathophysiology B MPPB
  • Therapeutic Development and Preclinical Studies TDPS

Functional/Cognitive Neuroscience

Study Sections Evaluated (12)

  • Auditory System AUD
  • Biology of the Visual System BVS
  • Cognition and Perception CP
  • Chemosensory Systems CSS
  • Diseases and Pathophysiology of the Visual System DPVS
  • Neurobiology of Learning and Memory LAM
  • Language and Communication LCOM
  • Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms and Sleep NNRS
  • Sensory Motor Integration SMI
  • Mechanisms of Sensory, Perceptual, and Cognitive Processes SPC
  • Somatosensory and Pain Systems SPS
  • Ocular Surface, Cornea, Anterior Segment Glaucoma, and Refractive Error Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 BDCN-J 81

Resulting Study Sections (12)

  • Auditory Systems AUD
  • Biology and Development of the Eye BDE
  • Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms, and Sleep BNRS
  • Human Complex Mental Function HCMF
  • Language and Communication LCOM
  • Learning, Memory and Decision Neuroscience LMDN
  • Neuroscience of Basic Visual Processes NBVP
  • Neuroscience of Interoception and Chemosensation NIC
  • Neurobiology of Pain and Itch NPI
  • Pathophysiology of Eye Disease 1 PED1
  • Pathophysiology of Eye Disease 2 PED2
  • Sensory-Motor Neuroscience SMN

Last updated: 09/29/2023 12:31