NIH Center for Scientific Review: Notice of Closed Grant Review Meetings (April 28-29, 2026)
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review (CSR) has announced ten closed peer-review meetings scheduled for April 28-29, 2026, all held virtually. These meetings convene Special Emphasis Panels and Study Sections to evaluate grant applications across a range of biomedical research areas including musculoskeletal sciences, neurological disorders, oncology, HIV/AIDS, rheumatology, rare diseases, and kidney/digestive disorders. The meetings are closed to the public under 5 U.S.C. §§ 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) because discussions may reveal confidential trade secrets, commercially sensitive or patentable information, and personal data of grant applicants — disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Each panel is led by a designated Scientific Review Officer (SRO) at NIH's Rockledge II facility in Bethesda, MD, with one contact based in Hamilton, MT. The sessions run between 4 and 10 hours each depending on the panel. These are routine administrative review processes with no new regulatory or policy changes introduced. This notice was filed by Rosalind M. Niamke, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy, and published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2026 (FR Doc. 2026-06429).
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Key Changes
- Ten NIH peer-review panels convene virtually on April 28-29, 2026 to evaluate grant applications
- Meetings closed to public under 5 U.S.C. §§ 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) to protect trade secrets and personal privacy
- Research areas covered: musculoskeletal, neurology, oncology, HIV/AIDS, rheumatology, rare diseases, kidney/digestive disorders
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Conduct ten closed peer-review meetings on April 28-29, 2026, as scheduled for Special Emphasis Panels and Study Sections across specified biomedical research areas
Restrict all ten peer-review meetings to closed sessions under 5 U.S.C. §§ 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6); prohibit public attendance
Protect confidential trade secrets, commercially sensitive information, patentable material, and personal data of grant applicants from disclosure during grant review discussions
Designate a Scientific Review Officer to lead each of the ten peer-review panels, with contact information and availability for applicant inquiries
Hold all ten meetings in virtual format on the dates and times specified (April 28-29, 2026, ranging from 4 to 10 hours per panel)