FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 40, NO. 236 MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1975

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20014

December 1, 1975

Dear Colleague:

As you may know, the NIH has established a Grants Peer Review Study Team whose objectives are set forth in the

enclosed announcement, attachment 1. The Study Team is moving ahead vigorously with its assigned tasks.

Many of you have already responded to our request for comments and suggestions relative to the peer review system, and we wish to thank you for writing to us. Each letter is being reviewed and analyzed by the Study Team and thoughtful consideration is being given to your comments and suggestions.

We ask those of you who have not already done so to write to us and give us the benefit of your thoughts, suggestions, and comments on the Grants Peer Review System. We are most anxious to have your input so that we can do our best to make the Grants Peer Review System serve your needs. Please address your letters to:

In addition, we are planning to hold several public hearings, as sho ́m in attachment 2. We urge you and your colleagues to consider attending.

We look forward to hearing from you and we thank you in advance for your willingness to assist us in this most important endeavor.

July 1, 1975

ANNOUNCEMENT :

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN

NIG GRANTS PEER REVIEW STUDY TEAM

Attachment 1

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established an internal study team to conduct a detailed and correhensive study of the procedures generally known as "peer review." This study team has been charged to focus on the philosophy and procedure of grant peer review, its applicability to the NIH awarding instruments and programs, the attributes and problems of alternative review procedures, and the role and character of peer review in the decision-making process at the NIH. In addition to this broad charge, the study team has been asked specifically to: (1) review previous and on-going studies and analyses. of the NIH and other systems of peer review; evaluate recommendations; and, in the course of the work of the study team, initiate additional analyses or activities as necessary for accomplishment of team objectives; (2) set forth in detail the philosophy, objectives, procedures, and accomplishments of peer review; (3) examine in critical detail the entire process of peer review and make, where necessary, recommendations for modifications or change; (4) evaluate the need for enlarging or altering the type of NI staff training and communications to improve and maintain coordination and interaction between separate NIHI peer review activities; and (5) assess the impact on and make recommendations relative to peer review and provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Privacy Act. The 15 members of the study team reflect a broad cross section of the NIH and the NIMH. It is under the chairmanship of Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein, Director. National Institute of General Medical Sciences. At their first meeting, attention was focused mainly on the strategy to be employed in conducting the study. Since the mechanisms cf review employed by the NIH in evaluating grant applications have been discussed widely in the Congress, other branches of the Government, and in the scientific community, it was the consensus that an opportunity be provided for input from the scientific community. It is requested that interested parties submit written comments, views, and information by January 15, 1976, to Dr. Mathilde Solowey, Executive Secretary, NIH Grants Peer Review Study Team, Room 4A52, Building 31, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014.

Attachment 2
Page 1

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE NIH GRANTS PEER REVIEW SYSTEM

Notice is hereby given that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants Peer Review Study Team plans to hold a series of three public hearings to solicit information from the scientific community and other interested groups or individuals in conjunction with its study of the NIH "grants peer review" system, previously announced in the Federal Register on September 4, 1975 (40 FR 40870).

Some of the general topics for which information is solicited include: 1. Adequacy of the total review system, e.g.,

a. The effectiveness of the system in serving and responding to
societal needs and expectations for biomedical research on
disease-related problems

b. The effectiveness of the system in assisting in maintenance
of a strong, high quality national biomedical science base
c. The extent to which the system assists in meeting the best
standards of public accountability for expenditure of public
funds

2. Adequacy of the initial scientific review

3. Adequacy of the Council review

4. Adequacy of the priority rating system

5. Impact of the Privacy Act of 1974

6. Impact of the Freedom of Information Act, as amended in 1974

7. Impact of the Federal Advisory Committee Act

8. Recommendations as to how the present Grants Peer Review System can be improved

The hearings are open to interested members of the public and will be held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. as follows:

February 12, 1975 - Chicago, Ill., 219 S. Dearborn Street, Rm. 204A February 19, 1976- San Francisco, Calif., 555 Battery Street, Rm. 503 February 26, 1976 - Bethesda, Md., National Institutes of Health,

9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 1, 3rd floor, Wilson Hall

Attendance and the number of presentations will be limited to the time and space available. Thus, all individuals wishing to attend or present statements at these hearings should contact Dr. Mathilde Solowey, Executive Secretary, NIH Grants Peer Review Study Team, Room 4A35, Bldg. 31, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md. 20014, (301) 490-1231, by 5:00 p.m. E.S.T., January 16, 1976, stating which bearing site they wish to attend, and whether or not they wish to make presentation.