Peer Review of NIH Research Grant Applications

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James P. Kiley, Ph.D. National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Orientation to NIH
National Institutes of Health
May 21, 2005
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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National Institutes of Health

• Much of the biomedical research in the United
  States is supported by the Federal Government,
  primarily the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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NIH Mission

• Acquire new knowledge that will lead to better
  health for everyone
• Support research
• Train young investigators
• Communicate research results
  to the medical
  community and the public

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FY 2005 Funding By Mechanism
(dollars in billions)
16 NIH In-House 6,000 Scientists 2.8 Intramural
10 1.0 RMS 4 0.9 Other (NLM, OD, et al.)
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Spending at NIH 4.7
TOTAL BUDGET 28.8 Billion
84 Outside NIH (Supports over 212,000 Scientists
Other Personnel) (Supports over 3,000
Institutions Nationwide)
Spending Outside NIH 24.1
NIH comprises 27 Institutes and Centers
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National Institutes of Health
Office of the Director
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institute on Aging
National Cancer Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Eye Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases
National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and
Bioengineering
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke
National Institute of Nursing Research
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NIH Home Page - www.nih.gov

• NIH Guide
• Grant Policy
• Applications

• Additional Program Information
• Staff Contacts

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NIH Extramural Programs

• Grant Patron
• (assistance, encouragement)
• Cooperative Partner
• Agreement (assistance but substantial
• program involvement)
• Contract Purchaser
• (procurement)

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Investigator-Initiated Research and Research
Training Opportunities

• R01 Regular Research
• P01 Program Project
• SBIR Small Business Innovative Research
• K-series Career Awards
• NRSA Fellowships and Training Grants

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Opportunities for Young Investigators

• National Research Service Individual Fellowship
  (F32)
• Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
  (K01)
• Independent Scientist Award (K02)
• Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
  (K08)
• Small Grant (R03)
• Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15)
• Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21)
• Loan Repayment Program (L30 and L40)

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NIH Grant Process
Identifies Career Goal and
Training and
Prepares Application
Research
Investigator
Grantee
Submit Application
Manages Funds
Institution
National Institutes of Health
Center for Scientific Review
IRG
Institute makes
Institute
assigns application to
evaluates
funding decision
Advisory Council
Initial Review Group (IRG)
scientific
and issues
recommendation
and Institute
merit
Award
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PHS Research Grant Application Kit (form PHS
398)
Mail Completed Forms To CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC
REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ROCKLEDGE II
ROOM 1040 MSC-7710 BETHESDA MD 20892-7710
http//grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398
.html
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Dual Review System for Grant Applications

• First Level of Review
• Scientific Review Group (SRG)
• Provides Initial Scientific Merit
• Review of Grant Applications
• Rates Applications and Makes
  Recommendations for Appropriate Level of Support
  and Duration of Award

• Second Level of Review
• Council
• Assesses Quality of SRG
• Review of Grant Applications
• Makes Recommendation to
• Institute Staff on Funding
• Evaluates Program Priorities
• and Relevance
• Advises on Policy

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Receipt and Review

• Standard Receipt Dates for Competing Applications
  (http//grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/submission
  schedule.htm)
• Review Guidelines of Research Grants
  (http//www.csr.nih.gov/cdg/cd20guidelines/r01_Re
  search_Grants.pdf)
• NIH Grant Review Process Video (http//www.csr.nih
  .gov/video/video.asp)

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Applications are Assigned to

• Scientific review groups based on
• Specific review guidelines for each scientific
  review group
• Applicants may indicate preference as to
  Institute and SRG assignment in cover letter
• Institutes based on
• Overall mission of the Institute and referral
  guidelines
• Specific programmatic mandates and interests of
  the Institute

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Review of Research Grants

• Review Criteria
• Significance
• Approach
• Innovation
• Investigator
• Environment
• Overall Evaluation Score Reflects Impact on
  Field

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Scientific Review Group Actions

• Scored, Scientific Merit Rating (priority scores
  and percentiles)
• Unscored (lower half)
• Deferral

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STUDY SECTIONS DO NOT FUND
INSTITUTES FUND!
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Research Training and Career Development
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Research Training and DevelopmentGraduate Student
Pre-doctoral Training Support (T32)
Research Project Grant (R01)
Senior Fellowship (F33)
Postdoctoral Training Support (T32, F32)
Graduate Student
Mid- Career Change
Post- Doc.
Career
Stages of Research Training and Development
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Research Training and DevelopmentMedical Student
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
(K08)
Short-term Training of Health Professional Student
s (T35)
(K24)
(K23)
Research Project Grant (R01)
Senior Fellowship (F33)
Postdoctoral Training Support (T32, F32)
Medical Student
Mid- Career Change
Post- Doc.
Internship Residency
Stages of Research Training and Development
Career
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Institute-Initiated Research

• Targeted (lt25 of extramural funds)
• Usually time-limited (4 yrs) unless
  re- announced
• Institute Specifies
• Area of Research, Research Goals, Funds
  Allocated, Research Design, and Length of
  program (Program Announcements Requests for
  Applications or Proposals)

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Program Announcements (PAs)

• Invites grant applications in a given research
  area
• May describe new or expanded interest in a
  particular extramural program
• May be a reminder of a continuing interest in a
  particular extramural program
• Generally has no funds set aside
• Applications reviewed in CSR along with
  unsolicited grant applications

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Requests for Applications (RFAs)

• Announcement describing an institute initiative
  in a well-defined scientific area
• Invitation to the field to submit research grant
  applications for a one-time competition
• Set-aside of funds for a certain number of awards
• Applications generally reviewed within the
  issuing institute

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NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
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NHLBI Home Page www.nhlbi.nih.gov