Extension of NIH Pilot Study to Shorten the Review Cycle for New Investigator R01 Applications

Notice Number: NOT-OD-07-034

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

  • August 9, 2007 - See Notice (NOT-OD-07-083) Full Implementation to Shorten the Review Cycle for New Investigator R01 Applications.
  • April 4, 2007 - See Notice (NOT-OD-07-058) Continuation of the Extension of the NIH Pilot Study to Shorten the Review Cycle for New Investigator R01 Applications.

Key Dates
Release Date January 8, 2007

Issued by
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/)
Center for Scientific Review (CSR) (http://www.csr.nih.gov)

Purpose

As part of the National Institutes of Health continuing commitment to new investigators, a pilot effort (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-06-013.html) was begun in 2006 to allow new investigators to have the option of submitting a resubmission/amended R01 application for consecutive review cycles, saving four months. The two cycles of the pilot have involved over 1100 R01 applications reviewed in 40 study sections in the Center for Scientific Review. Approximately 15% of the eligible new investigators have used the option of next cycle submission.

The Center for Scientific Review is committed to continuing this pilot for the current study sections and to the extension to all new investigator R01 applications by the end of 2007. For the February 2007 review meetings twenty-two study sections listed at the end of this document will be added to the pilot. For the June 2007 review meetings a significant number of study sections will be added (these will be identified in a NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts Notice at a later date), and by the October 2007 meetings all study sections reviewing new investigator R01 applications submitted for standard receipt dates (this does not include RFAs and PARs with special dates) will meet on a schedule to allow consecutive cycle resubmissions. Study Sections in the AIDS and AIDS Related Research (AARR) IRG already conduct reviews and produce summary statements on a schedule that allows consecutive cycle submission for new investigator R01s.

With the expansion of this effort, the policies and practices initially established remain in effect:

  • Study Sections participating will schedule meetings so that new investigators receive their summary statements no later than March 1, July 1, or November 1.
  • The Summary Statements for qualifying applications will have an explicit note indicating eligibility for next cycle submission.
  • Resubmission applications for consideration at the next cycle must be submitted by March 20, July 20, or November 20.
  • Resubmission applications must be reviewed by the same study section that reviewed the previous version.
  • New Investigators who do not choose the next cycle option or request review by a different study section will use the standard resubmission dates for subsequent cycle submission (March 5, July 5, or November 5).

Of course effective February 5, 2007 all R01 applications are submitted electronically via Grants.gov using the SF424RR forms (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-020.html).

The NIH definition of a new investigator remains unchanged:
For the purposes of review and funding, applicants are considered new investigators if they have not previously served as the Principal Investigators (PI) on any Public Health Service-supported research project other than a small grant (R03), an Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15), an exploratory/developmental grant (R21), or certain research career awards directed principally to physicians, dentists, or veterinarians at the beginning of their research career (K01, K08, K22, K23, K25, and K99/R00). Current or past recipients of Independent Scientist and other non-mentored career award (K02, K04, K05, K24, and K26) are not considered new investigators. http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/resources.htm

Inquiries
For further information please contact:

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
301-435-0715; 301-480-1987 (fax)

The study sections participating for February 2007 reviews are (additions to the original 40 are in bold font):

Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging (APDA)
Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin (ACTS)
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section [BBM]
Biodata Management and Analysis Study Section [BDMA]
Bioengineering, Technology, and Surgical Sciences Study Section [BTSS]
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section [BMIT]
Biostatistical Methods and Research Design (BMRD)
Cancer Etiology (CE)
Cancer Genetics (CG)
Cancer Molecular Pathobiology Study Section [CAMP]
Cardiovascular and Sleep Epidemiology Study Section [CASE]
Cell Structure and Function (CSF)
Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Kidney (CMBK)
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity Study Section [CADO]
Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity Study Section [CIDO]
Clinical and Integrative Gastrointestinal Pathobiology Study Section [CIGP]
Clinical Research and Field Studies of Infectious Diseases Study Section [CRFS]
Cognitive Neuroscience (COG)
Community Influences on Health Behavior Study Section [CIHB]
Community-Level Health Promotion Study Section [CLHP]
Development 1 (DEV1)
Development 2 (DEV2)
Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Study Section [DDR]
Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical Technologies Study Section [EBT]
Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section [GCMB]
Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology Study Section [GMPB]
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section [GDD]
Gene Therapy and Inborn Errors Special Emphasis Panel [GTIE]
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section [GVE]
Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section [GCAT]
Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section [HBPP]
Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes (INMP)
Intracellular Interactions (ICI)
Infectious Diseases, Reproductive Health, Asthma and Pulmonary Conditions Study Section [IRAP]
Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction Study Section [ICER]
Language and Communication (LCOM)
Lung Cellular, Molecular and Immunobiology Study Section [LCMI]
Lung Injury, Repair and Remodeling Study Section [LIRR]
Macromolecular Structure and Function A Study Section [MSFA]
Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section [MSFC]
Medical Imaging Study Section [MEDI]
Membrane Biology and Protein Processing (MBPP)
Molecular Genetics A Study Section [MGA]
Molecular Genetics B Study Section [MGB]
Molecular Genetics C Study Section [MGC]
Molecular Oncogenesis (MONC)
Neural Oxidative Metabolism and Death (NOMD)
Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (NMB)
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, and Behavior (NNB)
Nursing Science: Children and Families Study Section [NSCF]
Pathogenic Eukaryotes Study Section [PTHE]
Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section [RIBT]
Radiation Therapeutics and Biology (RTB)
Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration (SBSR)
Social Sciences and Population Studies Study Section [SSPS]
Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Trauma Study Section [SAT]
Synapses, Cytoskeleton, and Trafficking (SYN)
Synthetic and Biological Chemistry A Study Section [SBCA]
Synthetic and Biological Chemistry B Study Section [SBCB]
Transplantation, Tolerance, and Tumor Immunology (TTT)
Tumor Progression and Metastasis Study Section [TPM]
Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action Study Section [XNDA]