FASEB Provides Feedback on Draft CSR Strategic Plan

By: Yvette Seger
Thursday, April 14, 2022
On April 11, FASEB submitted comments in response to a request for comments seeking input on the draft 2022–2025 strategic plan for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review (CSR). In addition to expressing support for the five overarching themes of the plan, FASEB’s comments highlighted opportunities through which CSR could leverage partnerships with scientific societies to further strategic priorities.

In addition to working with scientific societies to ensure proper stewardship of federal funds through high quality peer review, FASEB encouraged CSR to expand opportunities through the Early Career Reviewer Program to develop a large cadre of diverse, well-trained, and scientifically qualified experts to serve as reviewers. FASEB’s comments also supported regular training and refresher courses for reviewers and study section chairs to provide uniform awareness of NIH-wide policies and high quality, unbiased reviews.

Transparency and engagement with the scientific community was a strategic area identified as needing additional work over the next few years. This engagement includes a balance of formal and informal communication strategies for stakeholder outreach and providing sufficient time for collecting community feedback. Outreach through a variety of channels, ranging from social media to the NIH Guide and Federal Register, will lead to increased awareness of CSR initiatives among a broader range of stakeholders.

CSR is accepting comments on the draft strategic plan through April 30.