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If John is a paid employee of Science University, which has submitted a research application to NIH, can he serve on the panel that reviews the application? Since John has a conflict of interest with the application, he may not review that particular application and will have to be out of the room during the discussion and evaluation of that application, but may serve on the panel to review other applications.
The core values of impartiality, fairness, and integrity are fundamental to the NIH peer review process. NIH Scientific Review Officers (SROs) spend considerable time and energy identifying appropriate reviewers and managing reviewer conflicts of interest (COI).
Application of the Rules
The rules for managing COI addressed on this page apply to peer reviewers participating in:
- initial peer review for all types of grant programs, with the exception of construction grants, and
- peer review of proposals for Research and Development (R & D) contracts.
When does COI arise?
What are the types of conflicts that must be managed? Check out the many types below. Note that COI is handled differently for reviewers of grants and R&D contracts.
Grants Reviews
Contract Reviews
NOT-OD-21-005: Notice of Policy Revision: Managing Conflicts of Interest for Requests for Applications (RFAs)
- NOT-OD-21-019: Notice of Clarification: Policy for Managing Conflict of Interest in NIH Peer Review
- NIH Policy for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Peer Review of Concepts and Proposals for R&D Contract Projects
- Advanced Notice: Revised Policy for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Initial Peer Review of NIH Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applications
- NIH Conflict of Interest Rules for Reviewers (PDF - 34 KB)