Developmental grant applications are received and evaluated in February and August of each year. Each application receives multiple reviews from experts having knowledge of the subject matter and lack of conflict of interest. Reviewers assign scores to each application based on our evaluation criteria and write constructive critiques. The applications and their evaluations are then forwarded to our Developmental Grant Review Committee, which considers the pool of applications and recommends those most worthy of funding. Final decisions are based on availability of funds and the merit of applications.
Applicants will be asked to recommend between three and six reviewers.
Applicants are typically notified of the Core's decision within four to six weeks of the submission deadline. Along with the decision notice, applicants receive copies of the reviewers' critiques without the reviewers' names. The critiques are intended to help applicants improve their studies regardless of the funding decision.
Applicants whose studies are not funded are strongly encouraged to work with their SD CFAR mentors and submit a revised application. Minor revisions may be requested within 30 days, while major revisions will be deferred to a future funding cycle. Mentors are required for early stage investigators and available to senior investigators on request.