Director, Division of Extramural
Activities, NIAID
To encourage investigator-initiated research, NIAID will rely more on program announcements (PA) and less on requests for applications (RFA) and requests for proposals (RFP).
PAs afford applicants all the benefits of investigator-initiated research, including multiple receipt dates, review by the DRG, and a commitment to fund research in the stated area. NIAID benefits from formulating its initiatives on a broad advisory base. With the help of expert ad hoc advisors, Council will explore scientific opportunities with NIAID's extramural divisions to determine whether these concepts should be developed into initiatives (e.g., PAs).
Council will also assess the effectiveness of a PA in meeting program objectives. Much more than previously, it will take a broader and deeper look at program and portfolio balance in the context of other NIH-funded research in the PA's scientific area.
In an annual review, Council will determine whether the PA was successful, should be modified, or should remain open for another year. Every few years, Council will examine the portfolio of a whole Division to view how the parts fit together and ensure that the research complements other Institute and NIH efforts.
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