Update on Improving NRSA Fellowship Review: Analysis of Comments from the Request for Information

Noni Byrnes, Ph.D., Director of NIH Center for Scientific Review Mike Lauer, M.D., Deputy Director for Extramural Research, NIH As outlined in “Update on Improving Fellowship Review: A Request for Information (RFI),” NIH issued an RFI—from April 17 through June 23, 2023—seeking input on the proposed changes to the peer review of Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowship applications by restructuring the review criteria and modifying some sections of the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form that are specific to NRSAs. The RFI was published as a Guide Notice, in the Federal Register, and on our CSR Review Matters and NIH Open Mike blogs. It was pushed out through social media channels across NIH and we directly emailed leadership at almost 500 institutions across the United States. NIH received 164 unique responses to the RFI: 147 from individuals, 10 from scientific societies, and 7 from academic institutions. Regarding review criteria, many respondents were supportive of efforts to simplify the review of NRSA fellowships to emphasize the potential of applicant, strength of science, and the quality of the training plan. They also believed that the proposed changes would make reviews more equitable and less subjective for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, without penalizing other applicants. Many respondents were in favor of revising the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form and believed it would streamline the app...
Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - Category: Research Authors: Tags: blog Open Mike Source Type: funding