All applicants receive a written critique in the form of a summary statement. This is the official agency record of the peer review group's considerations and recommendations.
Summary statements are usually mailed to applicants 4-6 weeks after the initial review.
Priority Scores
Reviewers rank applications on a scale of 1.0 (best) to 5.0 (worst). Approximately the top 50% of applications in a group being rated receive a priority score. The priority score calculation is obtained by averaging the individual reviewers' scores and multiplying by 100. R03s receiving a score of 210 or lower receive funding.
The bottom 50% of applications do not receive priority scores and are called unscored.
The Center for Scientific Review sends unscored summary statements directly to the applicant. NCI program staff send scored summary statements to applicants.
Each summary statement includes either a priority score or a code:
- ** = not scored
- UN = noncompetitive
- DF = deferral
- AB = abstention
- CF = conflict
- NP = not present
Deferred Applications
Deferrals are very rare. They occur when the scientific review group is unable to determine an application's scientific merit because information is lacking. The deferral allows time to obtain additional information from the applicant. Deferred applications are usually reviewed during the next review cycle.
Uncompetitive
On rare occasions, applications are not recommended for further consideration. This occurs when an application lacks either:
- Significant and substantial scientific merit
- Adequate protection for human subjects to be included in clinical research
In this section:
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