NIH pilot study will shorten review cycle for new investigators’ R01 proposals

NIH pilot study will shorten review cycle for new investigators' R01 proposals

On December 2, 2005, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a pilot program to shorten the review & resubmission cycle for new investigators. The program will launch in February 2006, involving 40 of 200 standing CSR review panels (see list at end of article).

Key features of the pilot program are that reviewers will have 4 weeks rather than 6 to review R01 applications from new investigators, participating study section meetings will be scheduled earlier, and the new investigators will have a 20-day “grace period” on the deadline for the new review cycle so that they can revise and resubmit without sitting out an entire cycle. All of this should cut 4 months off the current schedule.

Shortening the review cycle has been a priority at NIH for several years. NIH is also committed to supporting research career development of scientists and helping new investigators in their efforts to obtain R01 research grant funding. To qualify for this expedited resubmission all of the following conditions must all be met:

The Principal Investigator must meet the NIH definition of a new investigator*.
A new or first resubmission of an R01 application must be submitted for the February 1 or March 1, 2006 date.
The application must be reviewed in one of the participating Study Sections listed in this Notice.
The Summary Statement must have the special note indicating eligibility to participate in the pilot.
The Principal Investigator must determine that it is reasonable to prepare a resubmission application in a short time.
The Principal Investigator must agree that the resubmitted application be assigned to the same Study Section; no change in review venue is permitted for the resubmission.
The July 20, 2006 receipt date must be met; late applications will not be considered.

The CSR pilot program resonates with an effort approved by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at their September Council meeting, which raises the pay line for new investigators and allows those who are close to the pay line to address criticisms in writing to the institute without having to undergo a complete resubmission/review cycle.

NIH considers applicants to be new investigators if they have not previously served as Principal Investigators (PI) on any Public Health Service-supported research project other than a small grant (R03), an Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15), an exploratory/developmental grant (R21), or certain research career awards directed principally to physicians, dentists, or veterinarians at the beginning of their research career (K01, K08, and K12). Current or past recipients of Independent Scientist and other non-mentored career awards (K02, K04) are not considered new investigators.

Although the number of new investigators who will be able to take advantage of CSR's pilot rapid turnaround process will be relatively few, the impact on the careers of these new investigators could be significant. To evaluate the impact of the pilot program, CSR will keep track of how many investigators take advantage of the accelerated resubmission option and monitor the success of applicants. Significant expansion of this pilot will be dependent on the full implementation of the electronic submission process.

For further information, individuals may contact the Division of Receipt and Referral, Center for Scientific Review, at 301-435-0715 (voice); 301-480-1987 (fax).

PARTICIPATING STUDY SECTIONS

Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section [BBM]
Biodata Management and Analysis Study Section [BDMA]
Bioengineering, Technology, and Surgical Sciences Study Section [BTSS]
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section [BMIT]
Cancer Molecular Pathobiology Study Section [ CAMP ]
Cardiovascular and Sleep Epidemiology Study Section [CASE]
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity Study Section [CADO]
Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity Study Section [CIDO]
Clinical and Integrative Gastrointestinal Pathobiology Study Section [CIGP]
Clinical Research and Field Studies of Infectious Diseases Study Section [CRFS]
Community Influences on Health Behavior Study Section [CIHB]
Community-Level Health Promotion Study Section [CLHP]
Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Study Section [DDR]
Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical Technologies Study Section [EBT]
Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section [GCMB]
Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology Study Section [GMPB]
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section [GDD]
Gene Therapy and Inborn Errors Special Emphasis Panel [GTIE]
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section [ GVE ]
Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section [GCAT]
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section [HBPP]
Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions Study Section [IRAP]
Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction Study Section [ICER]
Lung Cellular, Molecular and Immunobiology Study Section [LCMI]
Lung Injury, Repair and Remodeling Study Section [LIRR]
Macromolecular Structure and Function A Study Section [MSFA]
Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section [MSFC]
Medical Imaging Study Section [ MEDI ]
Molecular Genetics A Study Section [ MGA ]
Molecular Genetics B Study Section [MGB]
Molecular Genetics C Study Section [MGC]
Nursing Science: Children and Families Study Section [NSCF]
Pathogenic Eukaryotes Study Section [PTHE]
Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section [RIBT ]
Social Sciences and Population Studies Study Section [SSPS]
Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Trauma Study Section [ SAT ]
Synthetic and Biological Chemistry A Study Section [SBCA]
Synthetic and Biological Chemistry B Study Section [SBCB]
Tumor Progression and Metastasis Study Section [TPM]
Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action Study Section [XNDA]

SOURCE: Notice Number: NOT-OD-06-013; NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, Week Ending Dec. 2, 2005; http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-231.html