Skip left side navigation and go to content
Jump back to the beginning of the navigation

What is a summary statement and what does it mean?

NHLBI 

National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI)
a NIH 
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
the United State's medical research agency, a federal government agency composed of diverse Institutes and Centers that conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research. NIH Homepage.
Institute that provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, lung, and blood as well as blood resources, sleep disorders and the Woman's Health Initiative. NHLBI Homepage.
will provide a Summary Statement 
Summary Statement
official document with a short synopsis of peer reviewer critiques scores, codes indicating various concerns (e.g., human subjects research), and a recommended budget.
for each application, whether discussed or not at the peer review meeting.

Summary Statements include:

  • Resume and summary of the main points discussed during the review meeting and major strengths and weaknesses
  • Reviewer critiques containing more information about the strengths and weaknesses detected by peer reviewers
  • Codes and budget information
  • Meeting Roster
  • Contact information for the Program Official (PO) 
    Program Official (PO)
    staff member who oversees a scientific program and the progress of grants and contracts in a portfolio. This title is most frequently used to refer to the scientific or technical representative for grants, but the generic "program official" term also may refer to a Project Officer 
    Project Officer
    the NIH staff member designated as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) to coordinate the substantive aspects of an acquisition from its development through to contract award and administration. Also known as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative ( COTR ).
    if the funding mechanism is a contract. Also known as Health Scientist Administrators or Program Director.
    to whom the grant 
    Grant
    financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity. A grant is used whenever the NIH Institute or Center anticipates no substantial programmatic involvement with the recipient during performance of the financially assisted activities.
    is assigned

Within approximately 30 days, your summary statement will be available via your NIH Commons account.  You can find general information about pay lines in NHLBI’s General Funding Guidelines.

If human subjects 

Human Subject
Legally defined term for living persons about whom an investigator obtains specimens or data through direct interaction 
Interaction
any communication or other interpersonal contact between an investigator and a human subject. For more information, go to definitions in 45 CFR 46.102 and full 45 CFR 46.
or intervention or through identifiable, private information. Regulations include but are not limited to human organs, tissues, body fluids, and recorded information. Term is defined differently by FDA.
concerns arise during peer review, your summary statement will include code 44, which bars funding until you address all concerns.  This may occur as a result of an absent or inadequate monitoring plan or concerns about risks versus benefits for subjects.  Your Program Official(PO) will contact you to discuss how to resolve the issues raised in the summary statement.  These concerns will need to be resolved before NHLBAC 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council (NHLBAC)
an independent group commonly called Council that considers applications and advises the institute and recommends funding for applications that show promise of making valuable contributions. NHLBAC Homepage.
review.  The NOA 
Notice of Award (NOA)
a legally binding document, notifying the grantee and others that an award has been made, including all terms and conditions of the award and outlining the obligation of Federal funds. Previously known as Notice of Grant Award(NGA).
cannot be issued until this is done.



Page Last Updated: February 2011
Content Manager: ClinicalResearchPolicyManager@nhlbi.nih.gov

Twitter iconTwitterExternal link Disclaimer         Facebook iconFacebookimage of external link icon         YouTube iconYouTubeimage of external link icon