Richard Nakamura, Ph.D.

October 2014

CSR Goals and Philosophy

Major Goals

• See that NIH grant applications receive fair, independent, expert, and timely reviews – free from inappropriate influences – so NIH can fund the most promising research

• Focus on the quality of NIH peer review while maintaining or improving efficiency.

 • Support and advance the overall efforts of NIH and the

scientific community to advance science and health.

Major Goals

Strategies to Reach These Goals

• Work to better understand the needs of scientific communities and the institutes of NIH

• Consider the morale of staff, applicants and reviewers

Nurture relations with CSR and NIH staff, and extramural scientists that will support scientific progress

• Examine all CSR work units, particularly the IRGs, on a regular basis, employing the services of internal and external experts, including the CSRAC

• Determine how to improve peer review and continually reexamine such approaches

• Conduct research studies and trials on peer review (develop the science of peer review)

Conduct scientific studies of and regularly review CSR

• Hire scientists and staff that can deliver outstanding peer review

• Maintain and improve the scientific knowledge of SROs, including regular travel to scientific meetings.

• Provide opportunity and strong support for employee growth and development

• Work toward a positive and supportive style by senior staff

• Try first to help and then to relocate/separate employees that cannot make a contribution

Foster an organization with high standards that empowers, cares for and encourages its people

• Build the argument for peer review with the public and scientific audiences

• Showcase CSR as a center of scientific and administrative competence in the service of science

• Highlight a growing reputation for scholarship, cooperation and advancement of Institute missions

Communicate how well CSR is getting the job done

Advocate for policies that advance science, scientists and the NIH mission, drawing on deep connections to the NIH reviewer and PI community and working with CSR’s Advisory Council

Questions? Comments?Approval?