NIH PEER REVIEW NOTES

February 1996

Effects of Furloughs/Blizzard on Receipt, Referral, and Review of Applications

Federal government furloughs in both November and December of 1995, as well as a blizzard in January this year, have affected the usual administration of NIH grant awards including receipt, referral, and review of grant applications. NIH's Deputy Director of Extramural Research, Dr. Wendy Baldwin, has been updating the public about changes and delays affecting extramural programs via the news media, NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and the NIH Home Page (http://www.nih.gov). The following actions to reactivate the administration of NIH extramural research programs after the month-long shutdown have been implemented.

Issuance of Grant Awards

The NIH has given priority to actions most needed to prevent further disruption of ongoing research and research training programs. Staff have begun processing the substantial backlog of grant awards that were eligible to be paid after the October national advisory council meetings.

Before the next group of applications may be awarded, action is required by the national advisory councils that were scheduled to meet in January. NIH staff is exerting every effort to hold the council meetings as scheduled to minimize the impact of delayed awards on future year research administration.

Receipt and Referral of Applications

Because the November furlough disrupted the processing of the October 1 and November 1 submissions, the Division of Research Grants' (DRG) Referral Office was not able to maintain the usual schedule for the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA), and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications that arrived in early December. In addition, during the second furlough, applications arrived in response to Requests for Applications (RFAs) and for the standing AIDS receipt date early in January.

DRG staff adopted the following priority of work for the Referral Office. First, all applications received for the October 1 and November 1 receipt dates were processed. Next, applications submitted in response to RFAs before and during the furlough were processed; those received after the furlough continue to receive expedited handling. Then, AIDS-related applications received on January 2 were assigned to integrated review groups. The individual NRSA (fellowship) applications were the next group to be completed, followed by both SBIR and STTR applications that had been assigned for one council round later than usual (August 1996 rather than May 1996). However, review of many of these applications is expected to be completed in time for consideration for the May 1996 council meetings. Finally, the institutional NRSA (training grant) applications were processed and assigned. Because of inclement weather, the receipt date for these applications was extended from January 10 to January 19. It is expected that these applications will be reviewed on schedule for consideration at October 1996 council meetings.

Receipt Dates

The receipt date for REVISED applications (this cycle only) has been extended from March 1 to March 15.

The receipt date for COMPETING CONTINUATION and SUPPLEMENTAL applications has not changed. Applications must be submitted for the March 1 receipt date.

Referral Office policy regarding late applications remains unchanged throughout this period. Acceptance of late applications will be considered on an individual basis; the factors considered are the reasons for the delay and the ability of the appropriate study section to accommodate the application. Permission to submit a late application is not granted in advance. If not submitted on time, a cover letter explaining the circumstances for the delay must accompany the application.

Integrated Review Group Meetings

integrated review group meetings have been most affected by the furloughs, because the ability to receive, process, assign, print, and mail applications to reviewers in a timely manner has been limited. Consequently, many review meetings were postponed. The goal was to reschedule meetings to take place by March 30 so requisite material is available for the May round of council meetings. The postponements mean summary statements will be received by applicants later than usual.

For general information about recovery plans and actions, contact:

Study of IRGs to Encompass All DRG Review Committees

Grants Information Office Reorganized

Recently, the DRG Grants Information Office (GIO) was reorganized, with the trans-NIH extramural programs functions being transferred to the Office of Extramural Research (OER), Office of the Director, NIH. Ms. Judith Grover, deputy chief, GIO, and Ms. Darlene Jackson and Mr. Matthew Burr, information specialists, were transferred to the new Office of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, OER.

Dr. Samuel Joseloff and Ms. Lynne Williams remain with the DRG. For information and publications related to DRG and the receipt, referral, and review of applications, contact:

A native Washingtonian, Mr. Pike received his B.S. from the University of Maryland in 1960. After graduating, he came to NIH as an indexer in the DRG, working with what is now known as the CRISP system (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects).

In 1961, he accepted a position in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute where he was promoted to more senior levels of responsibility in the grants management field and was appointed Chief, Grants Operations Branch within the NHLBI's Division of Extramural Affairs.

In 1986, he left the NHLBI to join DRG as its executive officer to conduct the management of the division's fiscal, administrative, and personnel functions, as well as its information and communication activities. Dr. Jerome Green, former DRG Director, praised Mr. Pike's management skill, loyalty, and allegiance to the corporate structure of NIH. He also remarked, "Jim became a major figure in grants management activities at NIH." A colleague praised him for his "...wonderful ability to defuse tense situations with his sense of humor. He is the ultimate consensus builder." Another admired his "easy-going, yet highly respected and effective management style...sincere interest and concern regarding his coworkers, which comes through quickly and clearly."

During his career, Mr. Pike received several awards including the NIH Director's Award, Public Health Services' Special Recognition Award, a Special Achievement Award, and Sustained High Quality Performance Awards. In 1978, he received the Association of American Medical Colleges' Academic Achievement Award. Also, he was a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators.

Mr. Pike plans to take some time to relax, but will very likely be off and running with the next phase of his career. His top-flight expertise and insight will surely be missed by DRG staff and colleagues throughout the NIH community.

Tuition Costs, New NRSA Policy

Recently, the NIH announced a new policy related to tuition costs for National Research Service Award (NRSA) research training grants and fellowships. This policy, announced in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts (Volume 25, No. 2, February 2, 1996), is based on recommendations from the NIH Task Force on Tuition Policy, which held a public forum on tuition costs at the NIH on June 5, 1995. First, the policy is designed to establish uniformity for NIH reimbursement of tuition costs on training grants and fellowships, which previously varied considerably across the NIH institutes and centers. The second objective is to lend some predictability, so training institutions will know in advance how much of these training costs will be covered by the NIH.

For the purposes of this policy, tuition includes the costs associated with tuition, fees, and self-only health insurance that may be required for graduate students and postdoctorates supported by an NRSA. The new tuition policy begins with fiscal year 1996, new and competing continuation awards for training grants and will be phased in for fellowships in fiscal year 1997. Tuition costs on noncompeting continuation training grants and fellowships will be reimbursed according to policies in effect at the last competition.

Under the new policy, the NIH will reimburse 100 percent of the cost of tuition up to $2,000 and 60 percent of tuition costs above $2,000 for each predoctoral trainee and fellow as well as each undergraduate trainee supported by an NRSA training grant. This policy applies to training grants made under the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) and Career Opportunities in Research (COR) programs, but does not include the Minority Fellowship Program of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

This policy applied to postdoctoral trainees even though support for postdoctoral tuition costs is limited to the cost of self-only health insurance and the specific courses in support of the approved research training program. Such costs for postdoctorates require prior approval on a case-by-case basis. This policy also will apply to postdoctoral fellowship awards beginning in fiscal year 1997. In the future, noncompeting award tuition costs will be reimbursed in the amount paid in the previous award year, unless there is a change in research training scope.

Other policies regarding carryover and rebudgeting of training funds remain unchanged. For example:

• carryover of unobligated training grant funds is permissible only with the prior written approval of the NIH awarding institute or center;
• the awardee institution retains full authority to rebudget funds into or within the stipend and tuition cost categories of an institutional training grant; and
• rebudgeting funds into the trainee travel and the institutional cost categories, however, requires the prior written approval of the NIH awarding component.

Revised Fellowship Application Kits

The revised version of the Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA--fellowship application), PHS 416-1, and the Individual NRSA continuation application, PHS 416-9, are now available. The new application forms will be accepted for the April 5 and August 5, 1996, receipt dates and must be used for the receipt date of December 5, 1996. The PHS 416-1 (revised 8/95) and 416-9 (revised 8/95) supersede all previous editions.

The revised application kit contains form pages separate from the instruction booklet, so applicants can use one instruction booklet for several application submissions. The instruction booklet contains instructions for completing the application, sample form pages, and general information.

To request copies of the PHS 416-1 and a PHS 416-9, revised 8/95, (specify instruction booklet and/or form pages), contact:

Thirteenth Meeting of the DRG Advisory Committee

The thirteenth meeting of the DRG Advisory Committee took place on November 13 and 14, 1995, at the Rockledge 2 Building, the DRG's new headquarters. In a lively and open discussion, the committee members, DRG staff, and other NIH staff covered a wide range of topics. These topics included, among others: an update on the various NIH reinvention activities; the proposed reorganization of the division's integrated review groups and study sections; flexibility in the review of individual postdoctoral fellowship applications; joint workshops and study section meetings; ways in which study sections respond to changes in science; scientific review administrators' outreach activities to the scientific community; interactions with the NIH institutes and centers; appointment of study section members; ways to enable scientific review administrators to travel more frequently to professional meetings; possible new ways to rate grant applications; and the celebration of the DRG anniversary and 50 years of peer review.

Fortunately, the participants were able to complete the agenda just before the first Government furlough. It was definitely a historic meeting.

If you wish to receive the minutes from the meeting, contact:

DRG Committee Management Office
National Institutes of Health
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, Room 3016
BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20892
301-435-1124

The next DRG Advisory Committee meeting is planned for May 20 and 21, 1996, in the Natcher Conference Center, Room F, NIH main campus.

50th Birthday Celebration for DRG and Peer Review

The peer review system at NIH marks its origins with the establishment of the NIH Research Grants Office in January 1946. NIH and the Division of Research Grants will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this event on June 20, 1996. On that day, there will be a symposium at the Natcher Conference Center highlighting the past, present, and future of peer review. There will be no fee for attendance at the symposium, but registration is required.

NIH Extramural Trends Published

Personnel Update

NIH

Departure:

Ms. Lily Engstrom, Assistant Director, Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director (OD), joined the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Retirement:

Dr. George Galasso, Associate Director for Extramural Affairs, Office of Extramural Research, OD

DRG

Appointments:

Mr. John Jones, Acting Executive Officer

Dr. Kathleen Michels, Scientific Review Administrator, Neurological Sciences 2 Study Section, Referral and Review Branch (RRB)

Dr. Jules Selden, Scientific Review Administrator, Toxicology 1 and 2 Study Sections, RRB

Retirements:

Dr. Joseph Kaiser, Scientific Review Administrator, Pharmacology Study Section, RRB

Mr. James T. Lowrie, Chief, Systems Analysis Section, Information Systems Branch

Grant Applications Reviewed

Presented below are the numbers* of competing applications reviewed by NIH integrated review groups for the February 1992 and 1996 meetings of the national advisory councils and boards. These statistics were obtained from the IMPAC database.

From February 1992 to February 1996, the number of applications reviewed by NIH increased 12 percent, from 11,066 to 12,445. The direct costs (requested) reviewed in applications for research grants increased 14 percent, from $1,644.4 million in February 1992 to $1,908.6 million in February 1996.

                                           February    February
                                             1996        1992

Applications reviewed.......................12,445      11,066 

  DRG........................................9,249       7,829

  Institutes/Centers.........................3,196       3,237 
     
  
Research grant applications.................11,110       9,954

  Research projects..........................8,172       7,324
  
  Small Business/Technology Transfer.........1,262         766

  Research centers.............................136         121
  
  Other research.............................1,540       1,743
  

Training applications........................1,264       1,091

  Fellowships..................................936         829

  Training grants..............................181         262 


Other applications..............................71          21


Applications amended..........................4,064      2,943      
 
  Percent of total number reviewed...............33         27
  
Applications responding to RFAs.................495        47

Notes to PRNotes!

NIH Peer Review Notes would like to hear your comments about articles published and suggestions for topics of future articles. Please help us by filling out this form and submitting it.

Name and title:   
Organization:     
Phone:            
E-Mail:           

NIH Peer Review Notes Now Online

Office of the Director

Dr. Donald H. Luecke
Acting Director

Dr. Anthony E. Demsey
Acting Deputy Director

Dr. Donna J. Dean
Acting Chief, Referral and Review Branch

Mr. Nicholas J. Suszynski, Jr.
Associate Director for Advanced Technology

Dr. Samuel H. Joseloff
Assistant Director for Special Projects

Mr. John Jones
Acting Executive Officer

Editorial Board

Chairperson
Dr. Samuel C. Rawlings, Coordinator
Sensory Sciences Integrated Review Group
Referral and Review Branch
Division of Research Grants

Dr. Claudia Blair
Director
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources
Office of Extramural Programs
Office of Extramural Research
Office of the Director, NIH

Dr. Robert D. Hammond
Chief, Review Branch
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Mr. Robert Moore
Project Leader
Office of Reports and Analysis
Office of Extramural Research
Office of the Director, NIH

Ms. Jo Pelham
Scientific Review Administrator
Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine Study Section
Referral and Review Branch
Division of Research Grants

Dr. Michael E. Rogers
Acting Director, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
Division
National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Editor
Ms. Judith L. Grover
Public Affairs Specialist
Extramural Outreach and Information Resources
Office of Extramural Programs
Office of Extramural Research
Office of the Director, NIH