The Working Group on Review of Bioengineering and Technology and Instrumentation Research is inviting comments from the scientific community to help formulate their final recommendations. In considering the review of applications in these areas, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) has identified a growing need to involve experts in allied disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, engineering and mathematics. In light of NIH's increased emphasis on such research, it is important to dispel the current perception in the community that such interdisciplinary research is underserved by the current peer review system.

To address this need, Dr. Ellie Ehrenfeld, Director of CSR, established the Working Group, an ad hoc subcommittee of the CSR Advisory Committee. The Working Group is charged with (1) identifying the obstacles to fair, high-quality, rigorous review and (2) developing a set of principles to guide CSR in establishing a bioengineering- and technology-friendly review infrastructure. The Working Group’s focus on peer review complements the programmatic activities of the Bioengineering Consortium (BECON).

The Working Group is providing two opportunities for the scientific community to help shape its final recommendations before releasing their final report in May. Comments will be collected at an open forum to be held at the Experimental Biology 99 Meeting on Sunday, April 18, 1999, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center, Washington DC. In addition, you may submit your comments anonymously via this web site.