Let's Look at Peer Review

<p>Dr. Dharm Rathore is Chief of the Scientific Review Branch at National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH where he leads a team of 11 Scientific Review Officers. The team manages the peer review of NIH grant application and contract proposal submissions focused on Substance Use Disorder Research with a mission to advance science on the causes and consequences of substance use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. Dr. Rathore has 13+ years of experience in managing NIH peer review activities and oversees 60+ peer review meetings annually. Before taking this position, Dr. Rathore was as a Branch Chief for AIDS Research Review Branch at NIAID where he led a team managing the peer review of NIH grant applications focused on developing vaccines and therapeutics for HIV. From 2003-2008, Dr. Rathore was an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. in Blacksburg, VA.</p><p> </p>

<p>As Communications Director for the NIH Office of Extramural Research, Ms. Megan Columbus is responsible for leading strategic planning and communication activities pertinent to the management of NIH’s extramural program. She enjoys connecting scientists and administrators to information and tools in support of their research programs, helping the broader public learn how NIH-supported research contributes to health advances, and supporting the ongoing dialog between NIH and the research community. Ms. Columbus’ office is responsible for the NIH Grants and Funding website, the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts, the Extramural Nexus newsletter and “Open Mike” blog, eRA system communications, extramural staff training, media and legislative relations, and a host of other resources. She especially enjoys her outreach responsibilities that involve more personal engagement with the NIH extramural research community, such as live webinars and the NIH Virtual Conferences.</p>