CSR’s primary role is to handle the receipt and review of ~ 75% of the 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.
News & Policy
The latest news and policy updates from CSR. Read about our outreach programs and publications.
Study Sections
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Group, SRG). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
Review Panels & Dates
Applications are reviewed in study sections (Scientific Review Group, SRG). Review Branches (RBs) are clusters of study sections based on scientific discipline.
If I’m not sure whether NIH would consider my proposal a clinical trial, what should I do?
What is different about Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) that allow applications proposing clinical trials?
Why are Trainees or Fellows not allowed to lead an independent clinical trial?
What…
Appeals process for a withdrawn grant applicationDRR seeks to apply NIH policies regarding receipt and referral of grant applications fairly.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,…
Dr. Marc Boulay received his Ph.D. in international health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he then served as an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society and as the Deputy Director for Program Evaluation in the School’s Center for…
Dr. Daya Jirage earned her Ph. D in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She then pursued post-doctoral research in infectious diseases at the Walter Reed Army of Research. Her research included work on cell cycle regulation in Plasmodium and on process…
Dr. Tara Earl received her Ph.D. in social work at the University of Texas at Austin and post-doctoral training in health and mental health disparities and health services research through a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Minority/Diversity Supplement. Prior to joining CSR, Dr. Earl was…
Why is the NIH definition of a clinical trial so broad?
What is the difference between clinical research and a clinical trial?
Does the primary outcome of a study need to be a health-related outcome in order for a study to be considered a clinical trial?
Why is the NIH definition of a…
We asked some experienced reviewers why someone considering becoming a reviewer should do it. Here are some of the things they said:
Enjoy Flexibility in Submitting Applications: “I really like getting a break on application deadlines.” Reviewers may submit their own proposals up to two weeks late…
Dr. Jessica Bellinger received her Ph.D. in health services policy and management from the University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health. Before joining NIH, she was a social scientist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she directed projects examining…
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?
The rules say that I can’t share applications with someone who has not been officially designated to participate in the peer review meeting. How…
Dr. Elia Ortenberg serves as Chief of the Social and Community Influences Across the Lifecourse Review Branch (SCIL RB).Dr. Elia Kwee Ortenberg (formerly: Femia) received her Ph.D. in human development and family studies from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Before coming to…