Enhancing Peer Review at NIH

Improve the Quality & Transparency of Review

Peer review must consistently identify an application’s relative merit, potential for scientific and/or public health impact, and feasibility. This can be accomplished through achievement of the following:

  • Improving Scoring Transparency & Scale. Beginning with the summer 2009 review cycle/September Council, all applications will be scored with a new scoring scale.  The scale will employ whole numbers ranging from 1 to 9, yielding a priority score between 10 and 90. The selection of a 9-point scale was based on the desire for a scale with sufficient range to allow reviewers to make reliable distinctions among applications. 
  • Providing Scores for Streamlined Applications.  In 2009, applications that are not discussed during a review will receive criterion scores.
  • Shortening and Restructuring Applications.  Shorter (12-page strategic research plan) R01 applications will be restructured to align with review criteria for January 2010 receipt dates. Length of applications and strategy sections for other activity codes will be scaled appropriately.
This page was last reviewed on December 3, 2008
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