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NIH Grant Enhancements Outlined by CSR Director Scarpa at 2008 Annual Meeting
A February 20, 2008 letter to SOT from NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) Director Dr. Antonio Scarpa and National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Acting Director Samuel Wilson announces the creation of a new Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP). The creation of the SIEE SEP was a cooperative effort between the CSR and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). SIEE will be a temporary standing SEP and is a pilot review program. SIEE reviews will begin with applications submitted in June 2008 and will continue for three review cycles into 2009.
In 2002, the CSR completed an NIH-wide restructuring of Integrated Review Groups and Study Sections to make the review system more organ- and disease-centered. This resulted in the elimination of 2 toxicology study sections. For the past five plus years, SOT has been involved in discussions with NIH leadership to resolve this issue. This year, SOT representatives continued meetings with CSR leadership in Bethesda and SOT member representatives attended all six CSR-NIH Open House Workshops from March 2–December 28, 2007. This input contributed significantly to this favorable response of CSR and creation of the new SIEE SEP.
An evaluation of the SIEE SEP pilot will include analyses of review outcomes and of reviewers’ input. The CSR emphasizes that this is a pilot, and that there is no guarantee or expectation that SIEE will transition into a permanent study section. As SOT President George Corcoran noted in his message in this issue, "For SIEE to be viable for conversion to a standing Study Section, it is imperative for toxicologists to request that their qualifying grants be assigned to this SEP." Small numbers of reviewed grant applications and poor review performance would pose significant barriers to success.
Dr. Antonio Scarpa will be a featured speaker at our Seattle meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 1:30 PM–2:30 PM in Room 3A. SOT President George Corcoran will serve as the Chair for this late-breaking session that will be of considerable interest to SOT Members seeking NIH funding. Dr. Scarpa will describe broad Enhancements in the Review of NIH Grant Applications. He will specifically describe the new Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) under the existing Digestive Sciences Integrative Review Group (IRG). The SIEE SEP will provide for the review of a broad range of toxicology grant proposals by toxicologists. The session will also offer an opportunity for questions and answers.
The SIEE SEP will review applications related to the pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms whereby xenobiotics (including toxicants, alcohol, drugs, biopharmaceuticals, phytochemicals and other non-drug chemicals) affect distinct organ systems, other than the digestive and nervous systems, including cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, hematopoietic, renal, respiratory/pulmonary, immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Other covered areas are skin, oral, dental and craniofacial tissues, pregnancy and development. Applications addressing the effects of xenobiotics at the multi-organ level may also be considered. Visit the CSR Web site to learn more, including the role of the SIEE SEP within the Digestive Sciences Integrative Review Group.
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