the nih grant review process
DESCRIPTION
The NIH Grant Review Process. Hiram Gilbert, Ph.D. Dept. of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine Xander Wehrens, M.D. Ph.D. Dept. of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, and Medicine, BCM. Overview of This Presentation. Introduction into NIH grant review process Review criteria - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The NIH Grant Review Process
Hiram Gilbert, Ph.D. Dept. of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine
Xander Wehrens, M.D. Ph.D.Dept. of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, and Medicine, BCM
Overview of This Presentation
• Introduction into NIH grant review process• Review criteria• NIH review cycles
• VIDEO of mock study section
• Recent changes at the NIH (application, scoring, revision, new investigator)
Review Process
• All applications are reviewed• But streamlined process:– Top applications: brief discussion– Bottom application: unscored (full critiques– Mid-range: 10-15 min discussion
• ‘Peer review’
Center for Scientific Review
• CSR handles review of NIH grant applications• Handles 55,000 – 70,000 grant applications /yr• Only 20-30% receive funding (recently <20%)
• Grants are reviewed by study sections
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/
CSR - Study Sections
• Study section clusters:
Study Section Description
http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescriptionNew/CVRSIRG/LIRR.htm
Roster of Study Section
Study Section
• Goal: to provide thorough and objective reviews of all applications
• Chair – guides discussion• SRO – scientific review officer, federal official,
provides orientation about NIH policies and regulations
• Up to 20-30 members
Conflict of Interest
• A reviewer shall not review an application if:• A reviewer has a professional, personal, or
financial interest in an application• If an application is submitted by the reviewer,
a relative, close friend, or a collaborator.• If the reviewer is listed on a budget page.
Confidentiality
• Everything associated with the review process and committee is confidential.
• Reviewers may not take home applications or unpublished papers.
• Applicants may not contact study section members to discuss critiques.
Review Criteria (1/5)
• Significance– Address important problem?– If aims achieved, how will scientific knowledge
advance?– Effects of proposed studies on concepts or
methods that drive field?
Review Criteria (2/5)
• Innovation– Novel concepts, approaches, methods?– Aims original and innovative?– Challenge paradigms or develop new methods?
Review Criteria (3/5)
• Approach– Conceptual framework, design, methods and
analyses adequately developed?– Well integrated and appropriate for aims?– Potential problem acknowledged?
Review Criteria (4/5)
• Investigator– Appropriately trained?– Work appropriate to experience level PI and
collaborators?
• Environment– Contribute to success– Take advantage to unique scientific environment
Review Criteria (5/5)
• Human and Vertebrate Animal Subjects– Compelling rationale for using humans/ animals?– Humans: adequacy protections against risk,
benefits of research for subjects and others?– Inclusion age groups, different ethnicities, etc.
MOVIE
[6:48 - 34:06]
Changes in Application Structure
• Restructured application forms, page limits.
Changes in Scoring System
• Old system 1.0 - 5.0 (only 41 discriminations)• New system 1.0 - 9.0• Not recommended for further consideration• Percentile ranking
Changes in Scoring System
http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/scoring&reviewchanges.html
Changes in Revisions
• Beginning with original new and competing renewal applications submitted for the January 25, 2009 due dates and beyond, the NIH will accept only a single amendment (A1) to the original application.
• Original new and competing renewal applications that were submitted prior to January 25, 2009 will be permitted two amendments (A1 and A2).
Changes in Revisions
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/policies/operguid.htm
Early Stage & New Investigator
• New investigator: PI who has not previously successfully competed for a significant NIH research award. Exempt: R00, R21, et al.
• 2009: Early Stage Investigator (ESI): New investigators who are <10 years from completing their terminal research degree or medical residency
Early Stage & New Investigator
Questions ?