NIH and Scientific Community Gear Up to Review Challenge Grant Applications

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NIH received over 20,000 applications for the Recovery Act-funded Challenge Grants program. This number roughly equals the total number of applications that NIH receives for any one of its three major review rounds each year and will require over 18,000 scientists to participate in the peer review process.

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will use a two-phase process to review these applications. Reviewers with expertise in the specialized topic areas have been recruited to do the first phase reviews. Their reviews and applications will be futher assessed by one of about 30 study sections comprising researchers who will focus on overall significance and impact. Scores and summary statements are expected to be available by early August with awards to be made in September.