DRR Appeal Policy

The CSR Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) receives all NIH grant applications. DRR assigns grant applications to a scientific review group (study section) for first-level peer review and to a funding institute/center for the second level of review for funding consideration.  

Appeals process for a withdrawn grant application

DRR seeks to apply NIH policies regarding the receipt and referral of grant applications fairly. We expect applicants to be aware of published NIH policies, and we expect our implementation of policies and procedures to be consistent, reasonable, and transparent. 

Procedures to appeal the withdrawal of a grant application:

  • If you disagree with DRR’s decision to withdraw your application, we encourage you to first contact the person who made the decision to better understand the basis of the withdrawal.  
  • If, following the conversation with the DRR official who made the withdrawal decision, the program director (PD)/principal investigator (PI) still wants to initiate an appeal, the individual must do so within 2 weeks of the initial withdrawal notice.
  • Appeal by contacting the Acting Deputy Director of DRR, Dr. Michelle Timmerman. Provide a letter that explains the issues and why the action should be reversed. The DRR Director will consider the information you provide and re-examine the facts, policy, and initial decision. If the DRR Director agrees with you, the action will be reversed. If not, the Director will provide you with an explanation of why the decision should stand.
  • If the original DRR decision is upheld, and you continue to believe it is wrong, you may contact the Director of CSR. The Office of the Director will review the case again, either internally or by sending it to CSR’s Arbitration Board. This board is a trans-NIH group of senior-level staff charged with considering appeals carefully and in context. You will receive a prompt response to your concerns.
  • Once an appeal is initiated, the PD/PI is expected to respond promptly (not later than 1 week) to all future correspondence related to the matter.