Peer Review of Applications -- CSR

Questions and Answers Table of Contents

When does CSR oversee initial peer review? When does NIAID?

The Center for Scientific Review oversees initial peer review for most investigator-initiated applications, including single project R01 and small business (SBIR and STTR) applications.

NIAID oversees initial peer review for most requests for applications (RFA) and all request for proposals (RFP), and a limited set of investigator-initiated applications. For example, if expertise is needed for large clinical trial groups, NIAID will conduct the review.

Essentially NIAID and CSR conduct the same type of review. However, NIAID's practices may vary subtly in some instances. In general, if you understand how NIH CSR peer review works, you'll also grasp the basics for NIAID peer review.

To learn more about where applications are reviewed, read:

• What is peer reviewed at NIAID? in our RFAs and NIAID's Peer Review Process questions and answers.
• Where are program announcements and requests for applications reviewed? in our RFAs, RFPs, and PAs questions and answers.
• Where are investigator-initiated applications reviewed? in our RFAs, RFPs, and PAs questions and answers.

For more information about NIAID peer review, see NIAID Program Project (P01) Applications questions and answers.

Does CSR review applications responding to initiatives?

Yes. CSR reviews investigator-initiated applications, which include those in response to program announcements (PA). CSR occasionally reviews applications responding to requests for applications (RFAs) at the request of an NIH institute.

For information about NIAID's review process, see RFAs and NIAID's Peer Review Process and RFAs, RFPs, and PAs questions and answers.

Where can I find basic information about peer review?

Go to Initial Peer Review Assesses Scientific Merit and subsequent sections of the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

What are "integrated review groups," "scientific review groups," "study sections," "special emphasis panels," and the "Center for Scientific Review"?

Find descriptions in Who Peer Reviews Your Application?, and click on the blue glossary terms integrated review group, scientific review group, study section, special emphasis panel, and Center for Scientific Review to access the definitions in our NIAID Glossary of Funding and Policy Terms and Acronyms.

How does NIH send reviewers applications?

See SROs Assess Completeness, Assign Reviewers.

Who are peer reviewers?

They are your scientific peers from academia, industry, and sometimes the federal government. See Who Peer Reviews Your Application? For more information, see Will most reviewers be expert in my field?

If I respond to an NIAID program announcement, can I request a study section?

If NIH CSR is to review your application (the PA's number will appear as PA XX XXX), you can request a study section. If you don't request one, NIH will assign your application to the study section that is the best match.

If you have responded to a PAR (its number will appear as PAR XX XXX), see the PAR to find out who is responsible for conducting peer review.

Read more on this topic in Consider Requesting an Institute and Study Section in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

Is study section membership confidential?

No. You can find CSR study section rosters at CSR Study Section Roster Index.

After the review, you will get a roster with your summary statement. It will not tell you which panel members were assigned as primary, secondary, and tertiary reviewers, which is confidential information.

For NIAID, see RFAs and NIAID's Peer Review Process.

Should I look at the roster before review, and what if I don't like an assignment?

See Call If You Are Not Satisfied WIth a CSR Assignment in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

For answers to these and related questions, visit our General Application Information questions and answers and read:

• Should I request assignment to an institute and review group?
• If I did not request assignment to a review group, should I check the roster?
• What should I do if I don't like a CSR assignment?

Also see Requesting a Study Section in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

Can I recommend a reviewer I like?

No. Applicants are not permitted to suggest reviewers. Read more in Requesting a Study Section in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

Will most reviewers be experts in my field?

Not necessarily. Peer review is generally conducted by established panels of reviewers with broad expertise. These panels may include some ad hoc review members with expertise in relevant areas of science. NIH may form special emphasis panels when one or more applications require unique expertise.

For details, read Who Peer Reviews Your Application? in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal and Will most reviewers understand my science? on our Writing a Great Grant Application questions and answers page.

What happens before a review meeting?

See the first few steps in Part 8. Assignment and Review of the NIH Grant Cycle.

Who does my R01 application "belong to"?

It belongs to CSR or the institute that's reviewing it. Whether CSR or NIAID reviews your application, the SRO is your key contact until after initial peer review. At that time, your application moves to an NIAID program division, and you call your program officer with any questions. Go to Your Application Moves to NIAID.

To learn more about peer review at NIAID, see RFAs and NIAID's Peer Review Process.

Does NIH check my application to make sure it's complete?

Yes. When receiving an investigator-initiated application, CSR makes sure the key parts are there, such as the face page, budget page, and checklists. Later, before the SRO sends your application to reviewers, he or she looks at it more thoroughly to make sure it's complete. See SROs Assess Completeness, Assign Reviewers.

If I forget something, may I send it after the due date?

If your application is incomplete, you can call the SRO whose name is in your eRA Commons account to see if you can send additional information, or the SRO may contact you so you may quickly send in the required information.

It's up to the SRO whether to accept late information. See You May Be Able to Send in Additional Data for details.

Before CSR conducts initial peer review, will NIAID program staff have any contact with my application?

If you respond to an RFA, NIAID will perform an administrative check and review your application. To learn more about NIAID peer review, go to RFAs and NIAID's Peer Review Process and NIAID Program Project (P01) Applications questions and answers.

How can I volunteer to serve on a review committee?

To find this information, see Thank You Members of NIAID Peer Review Groups and Advisory Committees.

If I'm serving as a member of an NIH study section while working on my own R01 application, must I submit my application by the standard receipt date?

You may be able to apply continuously rather than wait for standard receipt dates depending on your study section and application type. Find eligibility requirements at Modified Application Submission, Referral and Review for Appointed NIH Study Section Members. Also see NIH's Continuous Submission FAQ and NIAID's Late Applications SOP.

What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?

Email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.