Transcript Introduction to Federal Agency Scoring Systems

NIH Scoring Process
NIH Review Categories
1. Significance
How important is the research?
2. Investigator
Is the team comprised of experts in the area?
3. Innovation
Is the research novel?
4. Approach
Are the methods sound?
5. Environment
Does the environment support feasibility?
NIH Scoring
Impact/Priority
Impact
Score
Descriptor
1
Exceptional Exceptionally strong with essentially no weaknesses
High
2
Outstanding Extremely strong with negligible weaknesses
3
Excellent Very strong with only some minor weaknesses
4
Very Good Strong but with numerous minor weaknesses
Strong but with at least one moderate weakness
Moderate
5
Good
6
Satisfactory Some strengths but also some moderate weaknesses
Some strengths but with at least one major weakness
7
Fair
Low
8
Marginal A few strengths and a few major weaknesses
Very few strengths and numerous major weaknesses
9
Poor
Minor: easily addressable weakness that does not substantially lessen the impact of the project.
Moderate: weakness that lessens the impact of the project.
Major: weakness that severely limits the impact of the project.
NIH Scoring Guidelines
7. Go it alone.
8. Underestimate the administrative burden.
9. Cover anything up.
Funding has been reduced but
opportunities exist