Center for Scientific Review

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) is the portal for United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications and their review for scientific merit.

The CSR organizes the peer review groups or study sections that evaluate the majority (76%) of the research grant applications sent to NIH.

[1] It also receives all grant applications for NIH, as well as for some other components of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Since 1946, its mission has remained clear and timely: to see that NIH grant applications receive fair, independent, expert, and timely reviews—free from inappropriate influences—so NIH can fund the most promising research.

Additional scientists serve on other NIH advisory councils, which provide a second level of peer review and make funding recommendations based on priorities set by the United States Congress, DHHS, and the public.