Upcoming Changes to Enhance the NIH Peer Review Process
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:
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.
One very noticeable change that researchers will notice when the new framework goes into effect is that there will no longer be 5 scored criteria (Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach, and Environment). Instead, the criteria will be consolidated into 3 factors:
1. Importance of Research (based on Significance and Innovation)
2. Feasibility and Rigor (based on Approach)
3. Expertise and Resources (based on Investigator and Environment)
View the NIH Simplified Peer Review Framework (below) and more helpful resources on the NIH Grants & Funding Page.
Use NIH's New Workflow to Check if the Single IRB Requirements Apply
If your next new or competing renewal application includes human subject research, take advantage of NIH's new Single IRB (sIRB) Requirement Determination Workflow (PDF) to help determine whether your project is subject to the single institution review board (IRB) requirements. Follow the steps in the Workflow PDF to ascertain whether your research falls under the NUH sIRB Policy or the revised Common Rule Cooperative Research sIRB mandate.
Learn more about Single IRB for Multi-Site or Cooperative Research requirements.
The Division of Research, Grants & Scholarly Innovations (RGSI) consists of an administrative core and 3 departments: Sponsored Programs (SP), Research Support (RS), and A.T. Still Research Institute (ATSRI).
RAND REsearch Across Complementary and Integrative Health (REACH) Center
A newly funded effort at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is creating a virtual resource center for clinician-scientists focused on complementary and integrative health. The project, awarded to the RAND Corporation, will be called the RAND REsearch Across Complementary and Integrative Health (REACH) Center (REACH Center), and will foster partnerships and collaborations among institutions and provide resources for faculty working at complementary and integrative health institutions in the US.
One of the most important aspects of the program will be the REACH Center’s work to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. To advance research that deepens our understanding of whole person health, diverse areas of expertise must be brought to the table to define thoughtful research questions and design impactful studies. Read the full article here.
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