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.
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…
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…
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…
The scientific review officer (SRO) works in partnership with the scientific community to ensure that the scientific review group (study section) identifies the most meritorious science for funding by the institutes and centers. Below are some of the key functions carried out by the SRO. Pre-…
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…
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…
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…
Dr. Ghenima Dirami received a Ph.D. in biochemical endocrinology from the University of London in England. Before joining NIH, Dr. Dirami received her postdoctoral training at Georgetown University. Her research in the Lung Biology Laboratory there focused on oxidant-induced lung injury and on the…
Dr. Anna Riley received her Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Her training is in social psychology, mental health, and gerontology. She came to CSR as an SRO intern from the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, where she was a postdoctoral research fellow…
Dr. Eleni Liapi received her M.D. at the University of Ioannina Faculty of Medicine, Greece, and residency training in diagnostic radiology, in Greece. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in interventional radiology at Johns Hopkins University and was subsequently appointed as faculty…
Dr. Byung Min (Justin) Chung received his Ph.D. degree in cancer research from Northwestern University, where he studied kinase signaling pathways in non-small cell lung cancer. He then moved on to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health for his postdoctoral training, elucidating non-mechanical…
Dr. Sara Hargrave received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Purdue University, studying the neurobiology of feeding behavior and the impact of diet on blood-brain barrier integrity. She received post-doctoral training at American University, where she studied the effects of diet and drug…
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. David E. Pollio received his Ph.D. in social work and psychology from the University of Michigan. He came to CSR after serving as a distinguished professor, chairing the department of social work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Prior to that he was the Hill Crest Foundation Endowed…
Dr. Joonil Seog received his Sc.D. in polymer science and Technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then performed his postdoctoral research on conformational regulations of cell adhesion molecules under force at the Harvard Medical School. Dr. Seog joined the University of…
Dr. Cristina Bäckman received her early education in Sweden, Linköping university. She received her Ph.D. in neuroscience form the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Before joining CSR, she was an intramural researcher at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Her laboratory…
Dr. Brennan received her Ph.D. in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She continued her research on mechanisms of oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiovascular disease as a postdoctoral fellow and junior faculty at Cleveland Clinic…
Dr. Andersen received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She furthered her training at Harvard Medical School, becoming a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and directing her laboratory for nearly 30 years. Dr. Andersen studied how…
Dr. Yanming Bi received her Ph.D. in bone biology from Case Western University, School of Medicine. Her graduate work on orthopaedic implant loosening received the William Harris Award for outstanding research related to the hip and the Kappa Delta Award for excellence in orthopaedic research.…
Dr. Cynthia Anderson received her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Hawaii (UH) and completed her postdoctoral training at the UH Center for Cardiovascular Research. Her research background is in cardiovascular biology with a focus on advancing therapeutic ultrasound…
Dr. Wenjuan Wang received her Ph.D. in population and reproductive health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Before joining CSR, she worked as the deputy director of research for the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program at ICF in Rockville, MD. While there, Dr. Wang…
Dr. Yingli Fu received her Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. She completed her post-doctoral training in radiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to her role at CSR, Dr. Fu was an assistant professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins…
Dr. Chee Lim serves as Chief of the Musculoskeletal, Skin, and Oral Sciences Review Branch (MSOS RB).
Dr. Chee Chew Lim received his Ph.D. in physiology and then did his postdoctoral training in age-associated diastolic dysfunction at Boston University School of Medicine. Before joining the NIH,…
Dr. Melinda Harrison Krick received her Ph.D. in chemistry from Duquesne University, where she studied heavy metal-binding proteins using quantum and molecular modeling and spectroscopic techniques. Dr. Krick then studied biosensors at the University of Bern, Switzerland. Prior to joining CSR, she…