CSR’s primary role is to handle the receipt and review of all grant applications that NIH receives. NIH separates the review process from funding decisions.
For Reviewers
Reviewers are critical to our mission to see that NIH grant applications receive, fair, independent, expert, and timely scientific reviews. We appreciate the generosity with which reviewers give their time.
Study Sections
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Groups, SRGs). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
Review Meetings
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Groups, SRGs). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
Evaluation Initiatives
Access data visualizations, reports, and analytical tools to track progress.
Mark D. Lindner, PhD, is currently serving as Acting Branch Chief of the Analysis, Informatics, and Automation (AIA) Branch within the Division of Planning, Analysis, and Information Management (DPAIM) at CSR—a role he assumed in August 2023 following seven years as leader of the Office of Planning…
How has the Vertebrate Animals Section (VAS) of the application changed?
What are the VAS criteria that must be addressed?
Do applicants describe all proposed procedures on animals in the VAS?
Do applicants describe and justify the sex of the animals proposed in the VAS? Do applicants justify…
Does the NIH policy on rigor and transparency apply to all types of NIH grants?
Where in grant applications should applicants address the four focus areas of the NIH policy on rigor and transparency?
I’m confused about the term “scientific premise or rigor” and how it is different from “…
Richard K Nakamura, Lee S Mann, Mark D Lindner, Jeremy Braithwaite, Mei-Ching Chen, Adrian Vancea, Noni Byrnes, Valerie Durrant, Bruce Reed (2021) An experimental test of the effects of redacting grant applicant identifiers on peer review outcomes. eLife 2021;10:e71368. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.…
We asked retired study section chairs to tell us the advice they would give to new reviewers. The nuggets below come from many years of combined experience as reviewers and chairs.Getting StartedDon’t be overwhelmed by the number of applications. Just start reading as soon as you get your…
I’ve read the definitions of Significance and Overall Impact but the two still seem rather similar. Can you provide some additional guidance?
When determining the Overall Impact score, should it equal the arithmetic mean of the scores for the scored review criteria?
Is it possible for an…
Dr. Lee Klinkenberg received his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University at Albany, SUNY. He completed post-doctoral training at the Tuberculosis Research Center in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Subsequently, Dr. Klinkenberg became research faculty at Johns Hopkins and…
Who is included in the small business peer-review study sections?
What are the differences between the SBIR and STTR programs?
What is a Fast-track award?
How do I become an NIH SBIR/STTR application reviewer?
Who is included in the small business peer-review study sections?
Small business…
ENQUIRE 2019 - These reports detail the changes in scientific scope for study sections evaluated under the ENQUIRE process in 2019. ENQUIRE integrates data and input from multiple stakeholders – the external scientific community, extramural programs at NIH, and CSR staff to consider changes…
Ask the Right Person for Help:Before you submit your application-Speak with a program officer (PO) at the NIH institute or center that you think might be interested in funding your application. You can identify potential program officers by using NIH RePORTER to search for funded grants in your…
For questions about the appropriateness of the scientific review group assignment, the investigator should contact the scientific review officer. Contact information for the scientific review officer can be found in your eRA Commons account.Requests to change the assigned funding institute/center…
I’m extremely busy this semester and don’t see how I can finish all my critiques in time. What’s the harm in asking my senior postdoc to help me out?
Which relationships constitute a conflict of interest in initial peer review?
Which relationships do NOT constitute a conflict?
Are training…