NIH to Begin Centralized Peer Review for Grant Applications
March 12, 2025
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced
plans to centralize peer review of all applications for grants, cooperative agreements and research and development contracts within the agency’s Center for Scientific Review (CSR). The agency estimates that the move will save more than $65 million annually.
Currently, NIH’s peer review process involves a two-stage evaluation: scientific merit is assessed by study sections, followed by a mission relevance review by advisory councils. Final funding decisions are made by NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) directors.
Under the new proposal, CSR will manage the first-stage scientific review for all applications, eliminating the need for individual IC-based review processes.
The proposal is under review including assessments by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Management and Budget. The plan will also undergo a 15-day notification period with Congress and be published in the Federal Register.
