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.
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…
How Application Assignments Are MadeThe Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) in the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) assigns each application to a scientific review group (study section) with the expertise to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of the application and to one or more…
Dr. Weiqun Li received his first MD degree at the Nanjing Medical University in China and his second one at the Freie University of Berlin in Germany. He did his postdoctoral training at the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI). He was an assistant professor…
When you are ready to resubmit your application, you should contact your assigned program officer for guidance in addressing the comments in your summary statement.See Frequently Asked Questions about resubmissions of applications for details about current NIH policy and to learn about the…
While there is no administrative requirement that the science in a new A0 application be substantively different from any previously reviewed submission, it is not allowable to have duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time as per 2.3.7.4 Resubmission of an Unfunded…
The ECR program aims to:
Help early career scientists become more competitive for R01 funding by giving them first-hand experience with the review process
Enrich the existing pool of reviewers through increased recruitment of groups traditionally underrepresented on panels such as women,…
Dr. Simon Peron received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine, where he worked on the biophysical mechanisms subserving neural computations in insect vision. He received postdoctoral training at Janelia Farm Research Campus in large-scale two-photon calcium imaging of the mouse…
Dr. Kausik (Bobby) Ray received his Ph.D. in life sciences (cell, molecular, and developmental biology program) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his M.S. in cytology & genetics from the University of Calcutta, India. Dr. Ray did his first postdoctoral training at the Weis 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…
Dr. Aftab A. Ansari received his Ph.D. in biochemistry/immunology, then had postdoctoral training at the NIAID. His research interests include inflammatory diseases, asthma, allergy, autoimmunity, clinical immunology, clinical trials, immunogenetics, antigen presentation, T cells, and cytokines.…
Dr. Victor Henriquez received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from The State University of New York at Stony Brook. He did his postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), where he trained in the neurological control of speech and swallowing while…
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…
Dr. Poonam Tewary earned her M.S. in biotechnology from Calicut University and her Ph.D. in molecular immunology and vaccine development from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She then joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a postdoctoral fellow, identifying immune alarmins as effective vaccine…
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…
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…