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.
You are encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas on this website. However, NIH and CSR blogs are not intended to serve as public forums. The views expressed in the Comments section reflect those of the individual(s) who authored the comment(s) and may not reflect those of NIH or the U.S.…
Dr. Jessica M. Smith came to CSR from the Common Fund within the NIH Office of the Director, where she served as a scientific program analyst. She provided scientific expertise and analytical skills to facilitate review for Other Transaction Authority (OTA) awards, program management, strategic…
Dr. Tang-Toth received her Ph.D. degree from Johns Hopkins University and did her postdoctoral training as an IRTA fellow within the Cell Biology and Metabolism Program at the NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Prior to joining CSR, Dr. Tang-Toth was an associate…
Benefits of the ECR Program
Work side-by-side with some of the most accomplished researchers in your field to help NIH identify the most promising grant applications
Learn how reviewers determine overall impact scores
Improve your own grant writing skills by getting an insider’s view of how…
As Executive Officer, Ms. Ellis oversees financial management, committee management, procurement, management analysis services, and administrative services that enable CSR to fulfill its mission. Ms. Ellis has a wealth of experience at the NIH, beginning in 1989. She has held a range of positions…
Dr. Khalid Masood received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Central Drug Research Institute, India, and postdoctoral training in molecular biology at the Washington University School of Medicine. He has worked as a senior staff fellow in the intramural program of NIH, patent examiner in the United…
How does NIH describe an Early Stage Investigator (ESI)?
What are the advantages of early stage investigator (ESI) status?
I am an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) but this designation does not appear when I view the grant folder in the NIH Commons. How can I correct the information?
If, during…
Dr. Rich Lovering received his Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences at the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) School of Medicine. His graduate work utilized animal models to study underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle injury and recovery. His post-doctoral work was in the Department of…
Most competing grant applications to NIH require electronic submission using the SF424 (R&R) application forms. Electronic submission involves two separate systems working together – the federal portal Grants.gov and the NIH eRA Commons. The Office of Extramural Research provides information on…
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.71368…
What is sexual harassment?
Who should I contact if I have concerns that sexual harassment is affecting an NIH-funded project?
What is sexual harassment?
Actions contributing to sexual harassment include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct…
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…
Welcome to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) Dr. Noni Byrnes is Director of the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this capacity, she leads a staff of about 600 scientific, support and contract personnel, and is responsible for overseeing a…
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…
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…
After receiving a Ph.D. in anatomy from University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Ahlgren trained at the University College London and then at the California Institute of Technology. She also trained undergraduates in neurochemistry and developmental neurobiology at California State…
Dr. Bo Hong did her Ph.D. training in chemistry at Texas A&M University (1993) and her postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin (1993-95). She came to NIH National Center for Research Resources Office of Review in 2003 and served as Scientific Review Officer (SRO) in the areas…
Dr. Bruce Reed is CSR’s Deputy Director. In close collaboration with the Director he works to optimize peer review at the NIH through implementation of CSRs strategic plan. He has led multiple special efforts to develop new review practices and policies. He plays a major role with respect to…
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…
Dr. Sergei Ruvinov received his Ph.D. in chemical enzymology from the Moscow Lomonosov University in Russia. He came to NIH under a Fogarty International Center fellowship and conducted enzyme structure and function studies in the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Pharmacology at the National…
Dr. Noni Byrnes is Director of the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this capacity, she leads a staff of more than 500 scientific, support and contract personnel and manages an operating budget of over $130 million.
CSR handles the receipt and…
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…
She came to CSR from the National Human Genome Research Institute at NIH, where she was a staff scientist for the last ten years. Prior this, she worked at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Topol is a graduate of the Moscow State University with a bachelor degree in physiology, and she has a Ph.D…
Dr. Ingrid Li received a doctorate in pharmacy after which she became a faculty member in the Department of New Drug Research in Shanghai, China. She has held research scientist positions at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Pharmaceutical Division, and Bayer Pharmaceutical Division…
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,…