One week before the convening of a study section, the SRA solicits, from all members, a list of R01 applications believed not to rank in the top half for scientific merit. The individual lists are coalesced, and a final list is established at the outset of the study section meeting. They are not scored or discussed at the meeting, but reviewers' written critiques are provided, and the applicant may subsequently revise and resubmit the application. With some minor variations, all regular CSR study section meetings follow the same format. The meetings usually last two days.
Members convene around a conference table to maximize interaction.
After the assigned reviewers and discussants provide their evaluations, any outside opinions are read. These sheets are collected by the SRA or an administrative assistant at the conclusion of the meeting. Within a few days after the meeting, all priority score information is entered into the application database. Computer generated priority scores and percentiles are then automatically mailed to applicants. Feedback to applicants is important.