About 25,000 volunteers review the roughly 80,000 grant applications submitted to NIH each year. The process, which tags the best proposals with the highest potential for making an impact, is the bedrock of NIH's success. And reviewing grant applications is one of the best ways to acquire grant-writing skills, particularly for early-stage investigators.
NEI launched the Clinician Scientist Reviewer Program to increase the pool of qualified clinician scientists eligible to serve as reviewers on NEI special emphasis panels. Program participants will strengthen their grasp of the peer review process while gaining working knowledge of the various NIH grant mechanisms. Importantly, the program will facilitate networking with NEI program staff and fellow reviewers. An additional goal of the program is to increase participation of individuals from underrepresented groups.
To qualify for the program, applicants must have completed all fellowship/ postdoctoral training and be actively involved in research. After attending a brief orientation, participants are assigned one to three grant applications along with instructions for how to review them and develop critiques in preparation for review meetings. Check out additional criteria and other details about how to apply for this new program on the NEI website. And please share with young scientists that you think would benefit from the program.
Michael F. Chiang, M.D.