Announcing a Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications

October 19, 2023

NIH is pleased to announce that a simplified review framework will be implemented for grant receipt deadlines of January 25, 2025 and beyond. The simplified framework is expected to better focus peer reviewers on the key questions needed to assess the scientific and technical merit of proposed research projects: “Can and should the proposed research project be conducted?”

NIH All About Grants Podcast: Application Post-Submission Policy 

October 10, 2023

Dr. Stephanie Constant, NIH’s Review Policy Officer, joins us in this next episode of the NIH All About Grants podcast to talk about Post-Submission materials. She will tell us about the purpose of the policy, what “unforeseen events” can be added after submission (such as preliminary data in certain situations), what cannot (like preprints), logistics for providing them to NIH, how reviewers use this additional information, and who to contact.

If My Institution Has a Locally Hosted Generative AI Technology That Does Not Share Information Online, May I Use It To Help Me Write My Review Critiques?

August 15, 2023

The confidential nature of the NIH peer review process requires that any information pertaining to an application or proposal cannot be disclosed, transmitted, or discussed with any other individual.  Therefore, technologies where confidential information might be viewed by others are prohibited, including locally hosted AI technologies where uploaded information could be shared across multiple individuals.

Strengthening Integrity and Fairness in Peer Review Through New Required Trainings

July 11, 2023

Effective for the May 2024 council round (peer review meetings in early 2024), all reviewers will be required to complete trainings related to review integrity and bias awareness prior to serving on NIH peer review groups. These trainings build on our long-standing commitment to maintaining integrity and fairness throughout the review process.

Using AI in Peer Review Is a Breach of Confidentiality 

June 23, 2023

Reviewers are trusted and required to maintain confidentiality throughout the application review process. Thus, using AI to assist in peer review would involve a breach of confidentiality. In a recently released guide notice, we explain that NIH scientific peer reviewers are prohibited from using natural language processors, large language models, or other generative AI technologies for analyzing and formulating peer review critiques for grant applications and R&D contract proposals.