The NIH has a review that is double of applications, the GAO report explains. The first level of review occurs in committees with members who have expertise in the subject regarding the application. Significantly more than 40,000 applications are submitted to the NIH each and each committee (there are about 100, with 18 to 20 members per committee) reviews up to 100 applications year. The agency usually follows the recommendations for the committee in approving grant applications. Then there’s a second degree of review, by an advisory council, composed of external scientists and lay people in most people, including patient-group advocates and also the clergy. Peer report on continuing grants occur in the same time as new projects. (more…)