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Funding FAQs

Will I get funded? Should I revise my application? Can I take my grant with me to my new institution? Where can I get information on fellowships? Should I ask for 3, 4, or 5 years of support on a regular research grant? Who will review my application? Why did you cut my budget or reduce the number of years?

Here is a brief guide to the individuals who can answer questions for you. In general, you should first contact one of the extramural program directors at the National Eye Institute (NEI) at 301-451-2020 (see Staff Contacts List given below). This person should be able to answer your question or to direct you to someone else who can. If you continue to have difficulty, please contact Ellen S. Liberman, Ph.D., M.B.A., Extramural Activities Officer, at 301-451-2020 or esl@nei.nih.gov.

National Eye Institute

For written information about the following topics, click for the hyperlink:

For advice with the following questions, please contact the appropriate Program Director at 301-451-2020 on the Staff Contacts List:

  • Common pitfalls to avoid in preparing an application
  • Summary statements of initial reviews
  • Preparation of a revised application
  • Your chances for funding
  • Pre-award and post-award administrative requirements
  • Any other issues related to the scientific conduct of your project

For information about the initial scientific merit review procedures for applications that are assigned to NEI for review, please contact:

Annie E. Schaffner, Ph.D., Chief, Scientific Review Branch, aes@nei.nih.gov
Brian A. Hoshaw, Ph.D., howshawb@nei.nih.gov

Applications routinely assigned to NEI for initial review include:

  • K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award
  • K12 The NEI Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award
  • K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
  • K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence Award
  • P30 Center Core Grant
  • R21 NEI Research Grant for Secondary Data Analysis
  • R24 NEI Translational Research Program on Therapy for Visual Disorders
  • R34 Clinical Trial Planning Grant
  • T32 Institutional National Research Service Award
  • T35 National Research Training Award Short-Term Research Training
  • U10 Cooperative Clinical Research Cooperative Agreement
  • U13 Cooperative Agreement conference Grant any NEI-issued Request for Applications

For inquiries before the initial review of these types of applications, please contact Dr. Schaffner at aes@nei.nih.gov or 301-451-2020. Following the initial review, please contact the appropriate NEI extramural program director for information. Other types of applications, including most regular research grants and individual postdoctoral fellowships are reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review (see below).

The mailing address and FAX number for all NEI extramural program and review staff is:

National Eye Institute
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Bethesda, MD 20892-9300
FAX: (301) 402-0528

For Express Mail or Courier Service:
National Eye Institute
Suite 1300
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9300
Rockville, MD 20852

Center for Scientific Review

Please note that the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) is a central NIH service unit. CSR is not an operating component of the NEI.

For information about the assignment of applications to a particular CSR initial review group or an NIH funding component, please contact the CSR Referral Office at (301) 435-0715 or FAX (301) 480-1987.

For information about the initial scientific merit review procedures for regular research grants, individual postdoctoral fellowship applications, and other types of applications that are assigned to one of the many CSR Study Sections, please contact the appropriate Scientific Review Administrator, http://www.csr.nih.gov. Following the initial review, please contact the appropriate NEI extramural program director for information.

Last Updated: January 2013