Notice Number: NOT-OD-08-026 (See Companion Notice NOT-OD-08-027)

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 9, 2008 - See Impact of NIH Transition to Adobe Forms on Appointed Members of NIH Chartered Study Sections (NOT-OD-09-028).

Key Dates
Release Date: January 04, 2008

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/)
Center for Scientific Review (CSR), (http://cms.csr.nih.gov)

Purpose

The National Institutes of Health is implementing an alternate plan for submission and review of research grant applications from appointed members of chartered NIH study sections in order to recognize their outstanding service and to minimize disincentives to study section service. The timing of Study Section meetings and most standard due dates for grant applications overlap (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm). Thus, reviewers are under pressure to review applications and prepare their own applications simultaneously.

Beginning February 5, 2008 the alternate submission and review procedures, described below, will be available for appointed members of NIH Study Sections. This alternate process is limited to 1) appointed members of chartered standing Study Sections and 2) applications that would normally be received on standard submission dates (but not special receipt dates). Depending on the timing of the submission and the number of other similar applications received during the pre-meeting time window, NIH staff will decide if the application will be reviewed in a different standing Study Section or in a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP).  These applications will be processed and assigned to NIH Institute Review Offices or CSR Integrated Review Groups (IRGs) using the standard referral guidelines (http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescription/).

This continuous submission process will enable appointed members of chartered NIH Study Sections to submit their applications as soon as they are fully developed. The applications will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt. 

NIH plans to analyze this opportunity on an ongoing basis in order to assess feasibility and satisfaction. 

Eligibility:

• Only appointed regular (not temporary or ad hoc) members of chartered CSR and other NIH study sections may take advantage of the continuous submission process.  Appointed members are those who are approved for service on the Study Section by the Director of NIH, typically for a four-year term.  Multi-PI applications are eligible if one or more of the Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) is an appointed member of a Study Section

• Appointed regular members of NIH Study Sections may participate up to one and a half months after the date of retirement from regular service on the committee typically on June 30.  Continuous submission is thus permissible until August 16 of that year.

• This applies only to R01, R21 and R34 applications submitted for the standard due dates (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm).  Continuous submission is NOT available for applications submitted for special dates (RFAs, some PARs) or other activity codes.

• Continuous submission is limited to R01, R21 and R34 (including AIDS-related) applications. While most of these applications will be reviewed at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), some R01, R21 and R34 applications will be reviewed in chartered study sections at other Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the NIH.

• This does not apply to applications for which appointed members have a role other than PD/PI, including appointed members serving as sponsors for fellowship applications or mentors for career award applications. Such applications are expected to be submitted on the normal due dates. Any requests for late acceptance must relate to the fellow or PD/PI of the fellowship or career award (not a member or sponsor).

• This does not apply to individuals who serve as reviewers for Federal agencies other than the NIH or private organizations.

• Temporary or ad hoc members of CSR study sections will still be eligible for the late submission window. Members of NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors or NIH Advisory Boards or Councils are also eligible for that window. A companion Notice updates the NIH policy on Late Applications (NOTICE OD-08-027).

• If desired, appointed members of chartered study sections may request review by a standing study section (different from the one they are serving on), but those applications must conform to regular submission deadlines. As such, the late window of consideration for members will apply (NOTICE OD-08-026).

Processing and Review Schedule
All applications submitted in response to this opportunity will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt.  Because of the need to assign an Advisory Council date, the following schedule will be followed.  However, applications may be moved to earlier councils following review as timing permits. 

Schedule for Assignment to Advisory Council Rounds

Inquiries

A series of Frequently Asked Questions has been prepared (see http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/ContinuousSubmissionFAQ.htm).

Inquiries may also be addressed to

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD  20892-7720
Voice:  (301) 435-0715
Fax:  (301) 480-1987

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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