Notice Number: NOT-OD-10-090
(For initial and previous notices see NOT-OD-08-026, NOT-OD-09-114, and NOT-OD-09-155)

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

• July 8, 2011 - See Notice NOT-OD-11-093 Change in the NIH Continuous Submission Policy for Reviewers with Recent Substantial Service.

Key Dates
Release Date: May 7, 2010 (Rescinded March 2, 2017)
Start Date: May 7, 2010

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

Purpose

To recognize outstanding review and advisory service by members of the scientific community, and to minimize disincentives to such service, the National Institutes of Health provides an alternate plan for submission and review of research grant applications from appointed members of NIH review and advisory groups, and temporary members of NIH review groups with high levels of service. This Notice announces the extension of this alternate plan to individuals who serve on NIH Program Advisory Committees (PACs) as appointed members.

Policy

This continuous submission process will now cover:

• Appointed members of chartered standing NIH Study Sections,
• Appointed members of NIH Boards of Scientific Counselors,
• Appointed members of NIH Advisory Boards or Councils,
• Appointed members of NIH Program Advisory Committees, and
• Peer reviewers who have served as regular or temporary members of peer review committees six times in 18 months.

Appointed members are those who are approved for service on the above groups by the Director of NIH or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, typically for a four- or six-year term. Appointed regular members of NIH Advisory Groups may participate up to one and a half months after the date of retirement from regular service on the group. Thus, if retirement is June 30, continuous submission is permissible until August 16 of that year. Continuous submission does not apply to individuals who serve as appointed advisors or ad hoc reviewers or advisors for other Federal agencies or for private organizations.

This alternative submission and review process is limited to R01, R21, and R34 applications (including those that are AIDS-related) that would normally be received on standard submission dates (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm). Continuous submission is NOT available for applications submitted for special dates (RFAs, some PARs) or other activity codes. Multi-principal investigator applications are eligible if one or more of the Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PI) are eligible for continuous submission.

These applications will be processed and assigned to NIH Institute Review Offices or CSR Integrated Review Groups (IRGs) using standard referral guidelines (http://cms.csr.nihg.gov/PeerReviewMeetings/CSRIRGDescription/). Depending on the timing of submission and the number of applications, NIH staff will decide whether an eligible application will be reviewed in a standing Study Section or in a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP). A cover letter identifying the specific NIH Study Section or Advisory Group and term of service or other eligibility must accompany the application.

Continuous submission does not apply to applications for which the eligible members have roles other than PD/PI, including eligible members as sponsors for fellowship applications and mentors for career award applications. Fellowship and career award applications are expected to be submitted on the standard due dates. Any requests for late acceptance must relate to the fellow or PD/PI of the fellowship or career award (and not to a member or sponsor).

Temporary or ad hoc members who are not eligible for continuous submission will still be eligible for the late submission window as described in the Guide Notice NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications (NOT-OD-08-027).

If desired, members eligible for continuous submission may request review by a standing Study Section (different from the one on which they serve); however, those applications must conform to regular submission deadlines. As such, the late window of consideration for members will apply (NOT-OD-08-027).

Processing and Review Schedule

Applications submitted in response to this opportunity will be reviewed no later than 120 days after receipt. To enable timely second level review, the following Advisory Council dates and rounds will apply. Furthermore, applications may be moved to earlier councils following review if timing permits.

Schedule for Assignment to Advisory Council Rounds

Inquiries

Frequently Asked Questions and answers have been prepared (see http://cms.csr.nih.gov/ResourcesforApplicants/ContinuousSubmissionFAQ.htm). Any remaining issues/appeals may be directed to a NIH Continuous Submission Committee by emailing [email protected].