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.
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…
Get answers to the questions reviewers often ask.Conflict of Interest/ConfidentialityReview ProcessPremise, Rigor, Sex as a Biological VariableVertebrate AnimalsClinical TrialsInvestigator Career Stage BenefitsModel OrganismsSmall Business: SBIR/STTRR15 SpecificHave More Questions?Check out the…
Mr. Lamont Williams is an Associate Director within the Office of Communications and Outreach at CSR. He has more than 25 years of experience leading and managing communications, publishing activities, media relations, and promotional efforts for a variety of organizations in the biomedical field.…
Dr. Dmitri Gnatenko holds a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. His postdoctoral studies at the Division of Hematology of Stony Brook University’s School of Medicine focused on gene therapy approaches…
Dr. Thomas Zeyda earned his Ph.D. from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz Germany founded on loss-of-function studies that targeted the somatostatin system, which he performed as a guest researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Throughout his academic path, at the Max-…
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…
Dr. Marc Boulay received his Ph.D. in international health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he then served as an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society and as the Deputy Director for Program Evaluation in the School’s Center for…
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. Kate Fothergill earned her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a concentration in social and behavioral sciences. She obtained her Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina. Prior to coming to NIH, she was an assistant scientist in the…
Dr. Sharon Isern received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where she developed viral vectors for gene therapy applications. Dr. Isern conducted her postdoctoral work at UAB and at Tulane…
Dr. Robert Unfer received his Master of Science and Ph.D. in microbiology from Iowa State University. Prior to joining the NIH, Dr. Unfer held four postdoctoral fellowships, including at Fort Dodge Animal Health Laboratories; Rush University, Department of Immunology/Microbiology; the University of…
Dr. Michelle M. Timmerman is the Associate Director/Guide Liaison Officer at the Division of Receipt and Referral (DRR) at CSR.Prior to joining DRR, she served in the Office of Extramural Research as the Acting Director and Guide Policy Officer of the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts. She also…
Dr. Shannon Sherman received her Ph.D. from the University of South Florida and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Delaware. She then joined the J. Craig Venter Institute as the Director of Environmental Virology where her research focused on virus-host interactions…
How does NIH describe an Early Stage Investigator (ESI)?
What are the advantages of early stage investigator (ESI) status?
How does NIH describe an Early Stage Investigator (ESI)?
An ESI, or Early Stage Investigator, is a Program Director / Principal Investigator (PD/PI) who has completed…
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. 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…
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…
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…