CSR changed the chartered study section descriptions to make them more transparent and reflective of the types of applications actually reviewed by CSR study sections.

December 3, Acting Director, NIH Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., announced the appointment of Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., as Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

A new timeline details key dates and policies associated with NIH Peer Review Policy changes. Included in the timeline is the expectation that shorter applications are coming in January, 2010.

This New Year ushers in new Adobe-based application forms for NIH. There are only 3 weeks until the first Adobe-based application packages will become available. Applicants should prepare now by ensuring they have the correct software installed.

In FY 2009, NIH expects to support New Investigators at the same rates as established investigators submitting new applications. We strongly recommend that New Investigators keep their profile information in the eRA Commons current so that NIH is able to give their applications special consideration. (more…)

At the request of the Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives, NIH Acting Director Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., testified at a hearing entitled “Treatments for an Ailing Economy:Protecting Health Care Coverage and Investing in Biomedical Research,” held on November 13, 2008. (more…)

NIH is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR), effective through March 6, 2009. A CR is legislation enacted by Congress when the new fiscal year is about to begin (or has begun) to provide budget authority for federal agencies and programs to continue operating until regular appropriations acts are ratified.

After her tenure as NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Dr. Norka Ruiz Bravo has announced that she will step down as NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research and Director, Office of Extramural Research (OER) in November.

The NIH is decreasing the number of amended grant application resubmissions from two to one in an effort to fund meritorious science earlier.

While many details continue to be worked through, the first set of changes to the Peer Review process are already underway.