Funding FAQs
Will I get funded? Should I revise my application? Can I take my grant with me to my new institution? Where can I get information on fellowships? Should I ask for 3, 4, or 5 years of support on a regular research grant? Who will review my application? Why did you cut my budget or reduce the number of years?
Here is a brief guide to the individuals who can help you. In general, you should first contact one of the extramural program directors at the National Eye Institute (NEI) at 301-451-2020 (see Staff Contacts List given below). This person should be able to answer your question or to direct you to someone else who can. If you continue to have difficulty, please contact Ellen S. Liberman, Ph.D., M.B.A., Acting Director, Vision Research Program at 301-451-2020 or esl@nei.nih.gov.
National Eye Institute
For written information about the following topics, click for the hyperlink:
- NEI programs and research priorities
- Selection of the appropriate mechanism of support
- Specific application guidelines or instructions
- Application forms
- Application submission deadlines
- The timing of a review
- Foreign grants
For advice with the following questions, please contact the appropriate Program Director at 301-451-2020 on the Staff Contacts List:
- Common pitfalls to avoid in preparing an application
- Summary statements of initial reviews
- Preparation of a revised application or a rebuttal letter
- Your chances for funding
- Pre-award and post-award administrative requirements
- Any other issues related to the scientific conduct of your project
For information about the initial scientific merit review procedures for applications that are assigned to NEI for review, please contact:
Samuel C. Rawlings, Ph.D., Chief, Scientific Review Branch, rawlings@nei.nih.gov
Houmam Araj, Ph.D., arajh@mail.nih.gov
Annie E. Schaffner,Ph.D., aes@nei.nih.gov
Applications routinely assigned to NEI for initial review include: NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), NEI Research Grant for Secondary Data Analysis (R21); Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08); Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23); Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24); Center Core Grants (P30); NEI Translational Research Program on Therapy for Visual Disorders (R24), Institutional Training Grant (T32, T35); Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34); and, Cooperative Agreement Conference Grants (U13), cooperative agreement support of clinical trials and other types of large-scale, complex clinical research projects(U10). For inquiries before the initial review of these types of applications, please contact Dr. Rawlings. Following the initial review, please contact the appropriate NEI extramural program director for information. Other types of applications, including most regular research grants and individual postdoctoral fellowships are reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (see below).
The mailing address and FAX number for all NEI extramural program and review staff is:
National Eye Institute
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
FAX: (301) 402-0528
For Express Mail or Courier Service:
National Eye Institute
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Rockville, MD 20852
Center for Scientific Review
Please note that the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) is a central NIH service unit. CSR is not an operating component of the NEI.
For information about the assignment of applications to a particular CSR initial review group or an NIH funding component, please contact the CSR Referral Office at (301) 435-0715 or FAX (301) 480-1987.
For information about the initial scientific merit review procedures for regular research grants, individual postdoctoral fellowship applications, and other types of applications that are assigned to one of the many CSR Study Sections, please contact the appropriate Scientific Review Administrator (see partial listing below) at the CSR. Following the initial review, please contact the appropriate NEI extramural program director for information.
CSR Scientific Review Administrators (partial listing--more comprehensive information regarding the staff and organization of the CSR is available at http://www.csr.nih.gov):
Anterior Eye Disease (formerly Visual Sciences A)
Jerry Taylor, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1175 or (301) 480-1677 FAX
taylorje@csr.nih.gov
Central Visual Processing (formerly Visual Sciences B)
Judy Finkelstein, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1249 or (301) 480-4184 FAX
finkels@csr.nih.gov
Biology and Diseases of the Posterior Eye (formerly Visual Sciences C)
Michael Chaitin, Ph.D.
(301) 435-1248 or (301) 480-2241 FAX
chaitinm@csr.nih.gov
Suggestions for this page are encouraged. Please contact Ellen S. Liberman, Ph.D., M.B.A., esl@nei.nih.gov, 301-451-2020.