Dr. Elliot Postow

Inquiries concerning review issues should be directed to: Dr. Elliot Postow, Center for Scientific Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive - Room 4160 Bethesda, MD 20892 TEL: (301) 435-0911 FAX: (301) 480-2241 Email: postowe@csr.nih.gov.

and Elliot PostowNational Institutes of Health, Division of Research Grants, Bethesda, Maryland

The first edition of this book has been recognized as the standard reference on biological effects ofelectric and magnetic fields from DC to microwaves.But much has changed in this science since thebook's original publication in 1986.With contributions from eighteen leading research workers, this

Elliot Postow, Ph.D.Center for Scientific Review6701 Rockledge DriveBethesda, MD 20892TEL: (301) 435-0911FAX: (301) 480-2241

Elliot Postow, Ph.D. - Center for Scientific Review, NIH
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Report on Review of NIDA Neuroscience and AIDS Science at the Center for Scientific Review - Dr. Elliot Postow

Dr. Postow reported on results from the recent review cycle, which was the first to include NIDA's neuroscience and AIDS applications in the newly constituted Center for Scientific Review (CSR) review groups.CSR has committed itself to on-going evaluation of the integration activities and has applied for and received "1% evaluation funds" to monitor the integration.Cautioning that interpretation is limited by the small numbers of applications involved, he presented data on the outcomes of reviews of neuroscience applications.His general conclusions were that there was much variability over different scientific review groups, that NIDA applications were about as likely to be scored at the 25th percentile or better as others, and that usually the number of unscored NIDA applications was comparable to the number of unscored applications from other NIH Institutes.
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Dr. Postow presented data to suggest the percent of unscored applications was not affected, and the overall CSR median score moved from 240 to 265.Further, the distribution of scores was flattened.Dr. Postow concluded that the review groups are scoring, overall, as requested and implementing the score changes fairly.Council asked about the basis of calibration for "unscoring".Dr. Postow replied that the traditional adjectives were no longer being used, so the frame of reference is the grants one is "used to seeing" recently.Council raised the issue of round-to-round variability in the quality of applications, and Dr. Postow noted CSR has examined variability in scores, which is not an equivalent concept.Council sought and received assurance that applicants are being informed about the scoring changes.Council discussed the importance of keeping in mind that the purpose of the scores is to help make funding decisions and that this is especially difficult around the "payline margins."Finally, a member noted that reviewers need adequate orientation to the changes.

After Dr. Postow's presentation, Council decided to form a subcommittee to monitor the impact of integration and the reviews of NIDA applications.

Elliot Postow, Ph.D. - Center for Scientific Review, NIH

The new review groups have since been created, and none specifically address end-of-life care issues, according to Elliot Postow, director of the NIH division that houses the oncology review groups.

Elliot Postrow, Ph.D., Director of the NIH Division of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms, Center for Scientific Review, described recent changes in the scientific review process for grant applications.The median score for applications has been re-calibrated from 250 to 300, effectively raising the bar.

Elliott Postow, Ph.D., director of the NIH division of clinical and population-based studies, and a key CSR official, admits that the radiology IRGs may get their wings clipped in January.A CSR advisory committee was scheduled to meet September 30 to make a recommendation about the parameters of the oncology IRG."Some of the organ-related IRGs, which are part of the reorganization, have been very hospitable in welcoming into study sections in their IRG every grant application that concerns the organ," Dr. Postow says.

* * * SPECIAL LECTURE : Elliot Postow , Ph.D. , ( NIH , Div. Research Grants )Peer Review at the NIH : The Next Fifty Years.

16 : 30-17 : 30* * * SPRBM Business Meeting

18 : 30+* * * Reception and Banquet* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *