Resubmission of Applications with Pending Appeals of NIH Initial Peer Review

Notice Number: NOT-OD-11-101

Update: The following updates relating to this announcement have been issued:

  • April 17, 2014 - NIH and AHRQ Announce Updated Policy for Application Submission. See Notice NOT-OD-14-074.
  • August 1, 2012 - See Notice NOT-OD-12-128. Clarification: Time Limit on NIH Resubmission Applications.
  • October 20, 2011 - See Notice NOT-OD-12-003. Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. 10/1/2011): Policy Changes, Clarifications and Document Enhancements.

Key Dates
Release Date: July 29, 2011

Related Notices
NOT-OD-11-064: Appeals of NIH Initial Peer Review
NOT-OD-10-140: New Time Limit for NIH Resubmission Applications
NOT-OD-10-080: Enhancing Peer Review: Clarification of Resubmission Policy and Determination of New Application Status

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research

Purpose

This Notice clarifies NIH policy for handling the resubmission (A1 version) of a New, Renewal, or Revision application (A0) to the NIH for which an appeal of NIH initial peer review is pending resolution.

Policy

The NIH will not review a resubmission application (A1 version) if an appeal of initial peer review is pending on the original application (A0 version). This policy is effective for A0 applications submitted for the May 25, 2011 due date and thereafter. These applications will be reviewed in the fall of 2011 for the January 2012 Council round.

Longstanding NIH policy states that the NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. Also, if an appeal has been submitted concerning the initial peer review of an application, the NIH considers that application to be pending initial peer review until the appeal has been resolved. Resolution of an appeal occurs when the initial peer review outcome is finalized, by issuance of the final overall impact score and summary statement. Resolution can follow a decision that the initial peer review outcome will stand or that the application will be deferred and re-reviewed, with subsequent issuance of the final overall impact score and final summary statement.

NIH Program Officials and the Division of Receipt and Referral will monitor the receipt of appeal letters and resubmission applications. Should an appeal for the initial peer review of the A0 version of an application be pending resolution and an A1 version of that application is submitted, or an A1 version of an application be pending peer review and an appeal for the initial peer review of the A0 version of that application is received, the applicant organization must choose to have either the appeal or the A1 version withdrawn. This decision must be sent in writing to the NIH Program Official, with concurrence of the Authorized Organization Representative within five business days of being notified by the Program Official.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD 20892-7720
Voice: (301) 435-0715
Fax: (301) 480-1987

or

NIH Review Policy Officer
ReviewPolicyOfficer@mail.nih.gov