Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-114 (For initial notice see NOT-OD-08-026)

Key Dates
Release Date: June 25, 2009

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/)
Center for Scientific Review (CSR), (http://cms.csr.nih.gov)

Purpose

As part of the National Institutes of Health continuing commitment to recognize outstanding peer review service, and to minimize disincentives to such service, an alternate plan for submission and review of research grant applications from appointed members of chartered NIH study sections is being extended to regular appointed members of additional NIH Advisory Groups. These Groups include NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors, NIH Advisory Boards or Councils, and the NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee. Beginning July 15, 2009, the alternate or “continuous” submission and review procedures, described below, will be available for all appointed members of the specified NIH advisory groups.

This alternate process is limited to 1) appointed members of chartered standing NIH Study Sections, NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors, NIH Advisory Boards or Councils, and the NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee and 2) R01, R21, and R34 applications that would normally be received on standard submission dates (but not special receipt dates). Depending on the timing of the submission and the number of other similar applications received during the pre-meeting time window, NIH staff will decide if the application will be reviewed in a different standing Study Section or in a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP).  These applications will be processed and assigned to NIH Institute Review Offices or CSR Integrated Review Groups (IRGs) using the standard referral guidelines (http://cms.csr.nih.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescription/).

This continuous submission process will enable appointed members of chartered NIH advisory groups to submit their applications as soon as they are fully developed. The applications will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt. 

NIH plans to analyze this opportunity on an ongoing basis in order to assess feasibility and satisfaction. 

Eligibility:

• Only appointed regular (not temporary or ad hoc) members of chartered NIH Study Sections, NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors, NIH Advisory Boards or Councils, and NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee may take advantage of the continuous submission process.  Appointed members are those who are approved for service on the Advisory Group by the Director of NIH or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, typically for a four- or six-year term.  Multi-PI applications are eligible if one or more of the Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) is an appointed member of a Study Section
• Appointed regular members of NIH Advisory Groups may participate up to one and a half months after the date of retirement from regular service on the committee. Thus, if retirement is June 30, continuous submission is permissible until August 16 of that year.
• This applies only to R01, R21 and R34 applications submitted for the standard due dates (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm).  Continuous submission is NOT available for applications submitted for special dates (RFAs, some PARs) or other activity codes.
• Continuous submission is limited to R01, R21 and R34 (including AIDS-related) applications. While most of these applications will be reviewed at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), some R01, R21 and R34 applications will be reviewed in study sections at other Institutes and Centers (ICs) of the NIH.
• A cover letter identifying the specific NIH advisory group and term of service must accompany the application.
• This does not apply to applications for which appointed members have a role other than PD/PI, including appointed members serving as sponsors for fellowship applications or mentors for career award applications. Such applications are expected to be submitted on the normal due dates. Any requests for late acceptance must relate to the fellow or PD/PI of the fellowship or career award (not a member or sponsor).
• This does not apply to individuals who serve as appointed advisors for Federal agencies or for private organizations.
• Temporary or ad hoc members of CSR study sections will still be eligible for the late submission window as described in the NIH policy on Late Applications (NOTICE OD-08-027).
• If desired, appointed members of chartered Advisory Groups may request review by a standing study section (different from the one they are serving on), but those applications must conform to regular submission deadlines. As such, the late window of consideration for members will apply (NOTICE OD-08-027).

Processing and Review Schedule
All applications submitted in response to this opportunity will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt.  Because of the need to assign an Advisory Council date, the following schedule will be followed.  However, applications may be moved to earlier councils following review as timing permits. 

Schedule for Assignment to Advisory Council Rounds

Inquiries

A series of Frequently Asked Questions has been prepared (see http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/ContinuousSubmissionFAQ.htm).

Inquiries may also be addressed to
Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD  20892-7720
Voice:  (301) 435-0715
Fax:  (301) 480-1987

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RealPlayer, Video or Flash files, see Help Downloading Files.