Request for Primary IC Assignment

Purpose

To request CSR to refer grant applications to NIAID, including requests from either applicants or NIAID staff.

Procedure

When CSR receives competing applications, it assigns them to one or more ICs (typically two) for possible funding, according to NIH referral guidelines. Also, investigators can request assignment to an IC in their application cover letter.

Program officers may request a change in an application's primary assignment either 1) before initial peer review to correct a CSR assignment or 2) after peer review from another IC so NIAID can fund it.

Investigators and program officers can also request a dual assignment either before or after peer review. To request dual assignment, see the Dual Assignments SOP.

Applicants

• Include a cover letter with your application requesting assignment to NIAID. State that you have discussed the assignment with an NIAID program officer who agreed that NIAID wants your application assigned here.
  • CSR generally honors such requests.
  • Read more in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal:
    • Do You Need a Cover Letter?
    • Consider Requesting an Institute and Study Section
    • Applications Are Assigned to an Institute and Integrated Review Group
• If you are not happy with a CSR assignment, request a change directly from CSR, or ask an NIAID program officer to make the request for you.

Program Officers

• Ask to be the primary institute only if your division has the money to fund the application and you are interested in it.
• After peer review, funding comes from your division's discretionary funds.
• Ask your management if the grant can go on its end-of-year request list.
• Keep in mind that your division will budget for few of these applications.
• Tell PIs that NIAID funds most applications by the payline. Go to the NIAID Paylines and Budget Web page.

Before review

• Request reassignment of a grant application to NIAID after talking to the PI applicant and contacting the program officer from the other IC.

After peer review

• Do not request reassignment of a grant application before the summary statement is entered in IMPAC II.
• If a program officer from another IC does not agree to reassign an application, request a dual assignment. See the Dual Assignments SOP.

Contacts

Applicants with assignment or review questions should contact the Center for Scientific Review, or if the application will be reviewed at NIAID, contact the NIAID Scientific Review Program or the appropriate program officer. For more information, see Contact Staff for Help.

Contact for NIAID Staff

Contact for NIAID Staff

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

IMPAC and CRISP SOP

NIAID Request for Assignment Changes from CSR SOP

Changing the Locus of Peer Review SOP

Dual Assignments SOP