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.
Dr. Jui Pandhare received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India. Her thesis research was focused on functional characterization of microbial protease inhibitors for agricultural and industrial use. She then moved to the National Cancer Institute/NIH as a…
Dr. Laurent Taupenot’s academic background includes a B.S in biochemistry, cellular biology and physiology and a M.S in physiology from the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France, an advanced degree (DEA) in molecular and cellular biology and a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular neurobiology, both…
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…
Before coming to CSR, Dr. Shivakumar Chittari worked at the Henry M. Jackson foundation supporting the NIH Uniformed Services University (USU) Precision Medicine Program as Director for Administration and Research Projects. In addition, he provided scientific peer review support for the USU Vice…
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…
Dr. Anna Babakhanyan received a master’s degree in biotechnology from San Jose State University and her Ph.D. in tropical medicine from the University of Hawaiʻi School of Medicine. She evaluated naturally acquired antibody responses to pregnancy-associated malaria vaccine candidates in Cameroonian…
Dr. Kumud Singh serves as Chief of the Immunology and Infectious Diseases A Review Branch (IIDA RB).Dr. Kumud K. Singh earned his Ph.D. in biophysics at the University of Delhi, India, where he studied the structure-functional properties of catalytic RNAs. His postdoctoral research at the…
Using the ECR Application and Vetting System (EAVS) you can enroll or update your information. ECRs remain in the program until they no longer meet the criteria. For example, if you have been accepted into the program but receive an R01, you will be removed from our database of ECRs even if you…
Dr. Abu Abdullah is a behavioral scientist, public health physician and global health researcher with a Ph.D. in Community Medicine and an M.P.H. in Epidemiology. Before joining CSR, Dr. Abdullah was an associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston University…
Dr. Ananya Paria came to CSR after serving in the Population Studies and Genetics Branch of the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging. There, she worked in Population Studies and Epidemiology Research Programs on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), AD-related dementias (ADRD), and other…
Ms. Lynch leads the center’s ethics program. She oversees a staff of ethics professionals who are the first line of contact for employees. Ms. Lynch works with both employees and supervisors to ensure employee compliance with ethics rules, regulations, and policies, and the prevention or…
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…
Open the folder where you saved the zApps file. Figure 1 shows the folders and files included in the zApps. Double-click on the file ClickMe.htm, which will open in your default web browser (but you do not need to be connected to the Internet to open this file).
Figure 1- List of files…
Prior to the meeting, reviewers are assigned to your application.
Your scientific review officer (SRO) will analyze the content of your application, check for completeness and compliance with policies, and decide which reviewers can best evaluate it.
Reviewers have access to your application…
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…
The policy says there is a two week late window after the due date during which time NIH might accept a late application. How is that late window calculated?
I'm a reviewer, can I submit my application late?
Can I get approval in advance from NIH to submit my application late?
What is allowed…
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 Submission of Resubmission…
Selection CriteriaScientists must meet general requirements, expertise requirements, and requirements specific to the given study section/scientific review group. Balancing experience and diversity when developing rosters for a scientific review group is one of the most challenging tasks a…
I’ve read the definitions of Significance and Overall Impact but the two still seem rather similar. Can you provide some additional guidance?
When determining the Overall Impact score, should it equal the arithmetic mean of the scores for the scored review criteria?
Is it possible for an…
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-…