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. DeAnna Bublitz received her Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from Stony Brook University. She then trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (NIAID/NIH) studying intracellular pathogens. Later as a staff scientist at the University of Montana she studied…
Dr. Debasmita (Deb) Patra is an interdisciplinary social scientist and received a Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Hyderabad, India. She did her postdoctoral training at the Cornell Nanoscale Facility. Her research and teaching broadly looked at the impact of science and technology on society…
Dr. Olufokunbi Sam is the Director of the Division of Neuroscience, Development, and Aging (DNDA). Prior to this position, she served in multiple leadership positions at CSR, including serving as the CSR Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI) Coordinator, CSR SRO Training Workshop…
Dr. Pantazatos received his Ph.D in biomedical sciences from the University of California San Diego, California. During his T32 fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Pantazatos investigated conformational dynamics of protein membrane interactions using Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange Mass…
Dr. Devaiah Ballachanda earned his Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Purdue University. He was a researcher in the intramural program of the National Cancer Institute for over 15 years. Dr. Ballachanda’s…
Dr. Bhattacharyya is the director of the Division of Planning, Analysis, and Information Management (DPAIM), which comprises three branches: Information Technology Services and Solutions Branch (ITSS); Analysis, Informatics, and Automation Branch (AIA); and the Strategic Planning and Implementation…
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. Eileen Moore received a M.S. in psychology and a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Binghamton University, State University of New York. During this time, she also obtained training in addiction neuroscience at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. She next completed…
Dr. Ekaterina (Katia) Nestorovich holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from St. Petersburg State University and a Professional Certificate in project management from Stanford. Her postdoctoral research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development focused on the…
Dr. Elaine Sierra-Rivera serves as Chief of the Endocrine and Metabolic Systems Review Branch (EMS RB).After receiving her Ph.D. in cancer biology/radiation biology at the University of Iowa, Dr. Sierra-Rivera had postdoctoral training in the pathology department at Brown University. She then went…
Dr. Bryan Crenshaw earned his Ph.D. in biology from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied the role of transcription factors in the development of the pituitary and brain. After postdoctoral training at UCSD, he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in the Departments…
Dr. Elena Smirnova serves as Chief of the Molecular Genetics and Genomics Review Branch (MGG RB).
Dr. Elena Smirnova earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry/biophysics from Heidelberg University in Germany. She did her post-doctoral training in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the UCLA School of…
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. Elia Ortenberg serves as Chief of the Social and Community Influences Across the Lifecourse Review Branch (SCIL RB).Dr. Elia Kwee Ortenberg (formerly: Femia) received her Ph.D. in human development and family studies from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Before coming to…
Dr. Ella Jones earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California at Davis and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford. She has over 12 years of research experience in the private sector, pioneering the development of targeted molecules for cancer detection.…
Dr. Emily Foley serves as Chief of the Disease Control and Applied Immunology Review Branch (DCAI RB).Dr. Emily Foley completed her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard University, where she studied the mechanisms that control eukaryotic DNA replication and ensure it occurs…
Dr. Emily Kilroy earned her Ph.D. in occupational science with a concentration in neuroscience from the University of Southern California (USC). She also holds a Master of Science from University College London and Yale University, specializing in developmental neuropathology. Dr. Kilroy has…
Dr. Erica Spears trained as an interdisciplinary scientist whose research focused on chronic disease prevention and health behaviors in historically marginalized populations. Dr. Spears earned her Doctor of Philosophy in health education from Texas A&M University. She completed her postdoctoral…
Dr. Hernandez-Ochoa received an M.D. degree in general medicine and surgery and a Ph.D. degree in neurophysiology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. During his postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he investigated the role of calcium signals and…
Dr. Eugene Carstea serves as Chief of the Respiratory, Cardiac, and Circulatory Sciences Review Branch (RCCS RB). Dr. Eugene Carstea is the Chief of CSR's Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences (CVRS) Integrated Review Group. He earned his Ph.D. in microbiology (molecular biology) from Clemson…
Dr. Frederique Yiannikouris received her Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of Clermont Ferrand I in France and completed a post-doctoral training in obesity and cardiovascular diseases at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. After her post-doctoral work, she became an…