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.
Your Visit to the CSR Website is Private and SecureThis website is provided as a public service by the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at NIH. CSR websites perform a wide range of functions, including the collection and dissemination of grant application and scientific peer review policy…
Prior to the meeting, reviewers are assigned to your application.Your scientific review officer (SRO) is your main contact while your application is under peer review. The SRO will analyze the content of your application, check for completeness and compliance with policies, and decide which…
New to IAR? Want to know what happens once you receive a meeting invitation from your Scientific Review Officer? Or how to access grant applications and meeting materials? Or look up conflicts of interest? We have just the tools for you.
A new series of video tutorial on navigating the IAR module…
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.…
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…
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…
Dr. Rebecca Burgess came to CSR from a faculty position at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Maryland, where she taught microbiology, molecular genetics, and cell biology. Her research focused on the impact of chromatin structure on the DNA damage response, as well as best practices in the…
Mr. Leo Wu is Chief of the IT Services and Solutions Branch (ISSB) within the Division of Planning, Analysis, and Information Management (DPAIM). He provides leadership and expert guidance in planning, designing, developing, testing, implementing, and maintaining information systems and…
Three Tools to Help Direct Your Application to the Best Place for Review and Funding1. Use NIH RePORTER to locate funded applications in your field and discover:The scientific review groups (located in Project Information) in which they were reviewed.The NIH Institutes and Centers that fund this…
Dr. Jennifer Meyers earned her Ph.D. in immunology from Harvard Medical School, focusing on autoimmunity, and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at NIAID in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation, studying immune responses to HIV infection. She then served as science manager at The American…
Dr. Vonda Smith is an Assistant Director in the Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR).Prior to this position, she served as Scientific Review Officer(SRO) of the Small Business: Bioanalytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biophysics, and Assay Development Study…
Ms. Sharon Sealey is Chief of CSR’s Committee Management Branch (CMB). She and her staff of committee management specialists monitor CSR’s compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and other laws, regulations, policies and guidelines that govern the operation and management of the center’s…