Abstract A136: Demystifying NIH peer review: The study section as partnership between reviewers and scientific review officers

Abstract

What happens to applications after they are submitted to the National Institutes of Health? NIH uses two levels of review, but all applications come through the Center for Scientific Review (CSR). CSR assigns grant applications to a study section for the first level of review, the assessment of scientific and technical merit. CSR also assigns applications to one of 24 NIH funding institutes and centers for the second level of review and funding consideration. CSR’s mission is to ensure that applications are expertly and fairly evaluated in accordance with the NIH policies of rigor, reproducibility, transparency, and review integrity. This process involves several key players. The scientific review officer (SRO) is the designated federal official and recruits scientific experts to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an application. The SRO also trains reviewers, implement policies, and promotes good practices. The invaluable contribution of over 22,000 volunteer reviewers in over 1,500 review meetings is needed every year. Assigned reviewers write their expert assessment of the project’s overall impact and score additional review criteria, as defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. During the meeting of the scientific review group, these assigned reviewers present the score-driving strengths and weaknesses of the discussed applications providing their overall assessment. At the end of the discussion, led and facilitated by the panel chair, a final impact score is given by all eligible members of the panel. After the review meeting, the scientific review officer prepares the summary statement, which reflects the committee discussion driving the submitted scores of each proposal. The summary statement is the primary outcome of peer review used by program staff and the advisory councils at the funding Institutes to understand the likely impact of the proposed work and make funding recommendations. Serving as a peer reviewer can help scientists understand the nuances of peer review and allow them to craft more competitive applications of their own. Learn more about key players, policies, and best practices to understand your reviews and guide your next steps. Get your questions answered regarding study section assignments and discover ways to contribute to the success of the peer review process.