Skip Navigation LinksCSR Home > Applicant Resources

 Applicant Resources

CSR's primary role is to handle the receipt and review of ~ 80% of the grant applications that NIH receives. NIH separates the review process from funding decisions. Thus, CSR handles review of applications but does not fund applications. It is the Office of Extramural Research at the NIH that provides the leadership, oversight, and guidance related to grants policy. When applications are received, CSR assigns them to a Study Section for review and assigns a funding institute (such as National Institute of Mental Health) that may be interested in funding the application if positively reviewed. A Scientific Review Officer (SRO) at CSR handles the review of the application within a Study Section (Scientific Review Group, SRG) and the SRO is the best contact for applicants after submission and prior to the review meeting. The Program Officer (PO) at the funding institute is the most appropriate contact for an applicant for advice before submission and after the review meeting.

NIH Tips for Applicants

Discover how to make your application more competitive.
Transcripts

NIH Peer Review Revealed

A front-row seat to a peer review meeting.
Transcripts

What Happens to Your NIH Grant Application Video

Our "What Happens to Your Grant Application" video gives new applicants for NIH grants access to one of our popular outreach presentations. It describes how the NIH Center for Scientific Review handles applications submitted to NIH. The video then describes how our panels of outside experts review.
Transcripts

Grant Process and CSR's Role

CSR does not award funding. Please visit NIH for an overview of the Grant Process.

 Role/Source of Information Grant Process
 Applicant Planning, Writing, & Submitting
 CSR Receipt & Referral
  Peer Review
 CSR - Initial Level of Review
 eRA Commons - Priority Scores
 eRA Commons - Summary Statement
 Advisory Council of Funding Institute - Second Level of Review
 Program Officer Award Management
 Program Officer Post Award Management