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  1. Home
  2. Policy & Compliance
  3. Peer Review Policies and Practices
  4. Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant

Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant Applications

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Join us for an overview of the simplifying review changes.

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NIH is implementing a simplified framework for the peer review of the majority of competing research project grant (RPG) applications, beginning with submissions with due dates of January 25, 2025. The simplified peer review framework is designed to:

  1. Enable peer reviewers to better focus on answering the key questions necessary to assess the scientific and technical merit of proposed research projects:
    • Should the proposed research project be conducted?
    • Can the proposed research project be conducted?
  2. Mitigate the effect of reputational bias, refocusing the evaluation of investigator/environment to within the context of the proposed research.
  3. Reduce reviewer burden, shifting policy compliance activities to NIH staff.

 

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Background

Learn more about the NIH peer review process and how we developed the simplified peer review framework.

 

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Simplified Peer Review Framework

Learn about the simplified review framework that will apply to most research project grant activity codes for application due dates of January 25, 2025 or later. 

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Reviewer Guidance (coming in early 2025)

Reviewers will be provided training and guidance materials in Spring 2025 in time for the the first review meetings that include the simplified peer review framework, in Summer 2025.

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Applicant Guidance (coming in mid-2024)

The new review language will be incorporated into funding opportunities well before January 2025. 

Be on the lookout for an NIH Guide Notice in mid-2024 providing additional implementation details and resources for applicants on the simplified peer review framework, including an applicant-focused webinar. 

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FAQs

Have questions about the simplified peer review framework? We have answers.

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Training and Resources

Presentations, webinars, and more to help you understand the simplified peer review framework.

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Notices, Statements, and Reports 

Find Guide Notices, blog posts, press releases, and more on the simplified review framework.

Contacts

Those with questions about the simplified framework for NIH peer review may contact simplifiedreview@nih.gov.

This page last updated on: October 19, 2023

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