Five Things to Know About the NIH Review Process

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the NIH offers a variety of resources for applicants trying to better understand the NIH peer review process.  Below, we offer five pieces of information to better familiarize you with the process, but encourage you to explore the CSR site and resources using the links below.

1. Levels of review
When you submit an application to the NIH, the CSR assigns it to a study section (which you can request in your cover letter). The second level of review conducted by the NIH Institute/Center Council looks at the application's alignment with the institute's mission and goals. See the CSR graphic below that illustrates the process.




2. Who sets priorities?
NIH priorities are set by the scientific community, congress, and other industry, patient, and public representatives.

3. Your Early Career Investigator status
For new and early career investigators submitting applications to the NIH, your status is formally taken into account for R01s and considered for other applications as well.

4. The core review criteria
The core review criteria that NIH uses to assess its applications are:

• Significance
• Investigator(s)
• Innovation
• Approach
• Environment

5. Scoring
In the peer review process, reviewers score applications on a scale of 1-9 where the lower the score, the better.  Receiving a 1 means exceptional and receiving a 9 means poor.


Continue learning about the NIH peer review process through the CSR site and resources, accessible through these links:

Resources:
Peer Review Site* - CSR
Insider's Guide to Peer Review for Applicants* - CSR

* When you click the links, you may be asked for credentials, but when you hit "cancel," you should be directed to the site.