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Instructions for Using the NIH Electronic Council Book and New Features Effective August 2001 |
August 8, 2001
The NIH Electronic Council Book (ECB) is the online counterpart of the traditional NIH Council Book of Summary Statements, using World Wide Web and Internet capabilities for database search and retrieval. It allows you, as an NIEHS Advisory Council member, to read, search, sort, and print any or all of the summary statements for a Council round that has either a primary or secondary assignment to the NIEHS. NIH staff load data and summary statements into the ECB each night, so the ECB is always current.
| The data in the ECB and the codes you use for accessing the data are confidential and must be protected. Since the ECB contains confidential data, you should not leave it unattended. Use it and then disconnect. If for some reason you are inactive for approximately one hour, the system will automatically disconnect, and you will have to log on again. |
You or your institution will supply your computer access to the NIH computer, via an Internet connection and a WEB browser (such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer). The NIEHS staff persons indicated below will give you two required codes needed to identify yourself to the NIH computer where the ECB is located: an IMPAC II user ID and an IMPAC II password. Once you have this information, you are ready to start.
If you already are connected to the internet, use your web browser to access the following page:
http://apps.cit.nih.gov/council/login.cfm
NOTE: This is a new web site (URL) effective February 2000. If you have an old bookmark, it will direct you to the new web site.
You will see a Login screen entitled "NIH Electronic Council Book Logon" with two blank fields for your IMPAC II User ID and your IMPAC II password.
On the Login Screen:
If you entered an incorrect ID, click CLEAR FORM and then enter the ID again.
NIEHS-Specific Information: Once you are successfully logged into the system, there is a button displayed at the top of the first search page that is entitled "General Information for NIEHS." This button will take you to all of the information that is found in the Advisory Council meeting Agenda Book as well as all information that will be considered in the open and closed sessions of the Council meeting. Please access this information first.
This web site first displays a "Table of Contents" which has links to the specific items under each topic. In addition to the council information, there is also travel information pertinent to the council meeting. At the top of the "Table of Contents" is the "Special Review Assignments." This is a compilation of all of the items that have been identified for special consideration in the closed session of the council meeting. Please review this information.
Returning to the Primary Search Screen: Immediately beneath the words "Primary Search Criteria" there is an item entitled:
OUTPUT OPTIONS: This provides a drop down menu that offers the selection of the STANDARD HIT LIST or the RÉSUMÉ HIT LIST. A search using the STANDARD HIT LIST format will return a list containing the Percentile Score, Priority Score, Initial Review Group (IRG), Program Code, Application Number, Principal Investigator (PI) and Title. The RÉSUMÉ HIT LIST retrieves the "Summary of Review and Discussion" section of the summary statement in addition to the items in the STANDARD HIT LIST. This version of the HIT LIST provides a useful overview of the review of a single application or group of applications.
PROJECTS: This drop-down menu has three options: ALL PROJECTS, ASSIGNED PROJECTS ONLY, or DISCUSSION PROJECTS ONLY which enable you to select all summary statements of applications considered by the Council (All Projects), those assigned to YOU for discussion in the closed session (Assigned Projects) or ALL applications designated for discussion in the closed session (Discussion Projects Only).
To Initiate A Search: The search screen is divided into two parts: the Primary Search Criteria in the top portion, and Advanced Search Criteria and Special Selects in the bottom portion. Complete the form by inserting any criteria you wish.
EXAMPLE: To search for a particular summary statement, enter either the application number or the Principal Investigators last name in the appropriate box. NOTE: The system is designed so that only the first several letters of the Principal Investigator's surname are needed for a successful search.
EXAMPLE: To search for a group of summary statements that meet certain search criteria (such as all the applications reviewed by a particular IRG or all applications reviewed in response to a particular RFA or any other combination of information) simply enter that information in the appropriate boxes.
EXAMPLE: To search for all applications on a specific scientific topic simply enter the appropriate term in the boxes labeled "Summary Statement Contains." This search criterion has two boxes and a drop-down menu between them that allows use of a Boolean logical operator (AND, OR, and NOT) to connect two character strings. NOTE: If one is searching for a topic such as "endocrine disruptors," consider the two words as a single character string and enter both words in the left box separated by a space rather than one in each box.
Once you are satisfied with the search criteria, select either the SEARCH ALL SCORES or SEARCH SCORE RANGE button. The former will search the entire database, and the latter will search only the score range that is selected. Please note that there is a default score range of 0 to 30 PERCENTILE and 100 to 300 PRIORITY SCORE. These default settings can be modified as needed. When a search is completed, a "HIT LIST" will be displayed with the search criteria listed at the top. The HIT LIST will include all data on all applications that meet the search criteria you have selected.
Viewing Summary Statements: To view a particular summary statement on the HIT LIST, click the project number. The next screen will be the complete summary statement. NOTE: Each HIT LIST will list all applications that satisfy the search criteria whether or not the summary statement is currently available. For Netscape users, the grant number will be a different color (usually blue) and underlined if the summary statement is available. There will be a check box on the left margin (see instructions below on downloading one or more summary statements for offline reading).
Viewing IRG Rosters: To view the roster of members on a particular IRG, simply click the IRG identifier on the HIT LIST. The IRG identifier is adjacent to the application of interest.
ECB E-Mail Feature: This feature allows the user to send an e-mail to the NIEHS program staff person responsible for a particular grant application. When you click "email" on the left margin of the HIT LIST, an e-mail screen should appear. The grant number and the principal investigator's name will be in the "Subject" line, the NIEHS staff person's e-mail address in the "TO" line and NIEHS@LIST.NIH.GOV in the "CC" line. Simply enter the text that you want to transmit and send the message. This feature only works if your internet provider has enabled your browser to send mail.
The latest version of the ECB has a new look and new data elements in the HITLIST, as well as providing the user with options for downloading summary statements.
The ability to retrieve/print groups of summary statements: This feature allows the user to retrieve summary statements in several ways.
The attachment is the ECB HELP LIST for the download. It details the steps necessary for downloading summary statements in the available formats. The same information is available as a "Clickable" item on the HITLIST.
Tagging items on the HITLIST: In addition, the user now has the ability to selectively "tag" and "untag" items in the hit list: This allows the user to create highly customized hit lists for the purpose of downloading summary statements.
For assistance please contact: