NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Program Guidelines

PART 2: Submission of New/Competing Applications Section III.A. – Review Process
III. Description of Review Process and Review Criteria for New and Competing
Applications
A. General Information
1. Role of Peer Review and Review Policies
All applications for the key components of the NCTN Program are submitted and reviewed in the
same award cycle. The role of peer review is to assess the extent to which each key component
of the NCTN Program has and/or is likely to promote excellence in the conduct of clinical
treatment and advanced imaging studies that may lead to a reduction in the incidence of
morbidity and mortality attributable to cancer. The focus of the review is on the ability of each
key component of the NCTN Program to help develop, implement, and conduct meritorious
clinical trials, especially definitive late phase, multi-institutional trials. All applications will be
reviewed based on individual review criteria categories for each of the key components of the
NCTN Program which include an assessment of the application’s strength to contribute to the
Network as a whole. In particular, applications for Network Group Operations Centers and their
associated Statistics and Data Management Centers, will be reviewed not only for their overall
research strategy and scientific impact, but also on their contributions to the science of and
accrual to clinical trials conducted across the entire NCTN and the strength of their collaborations
with other NCTN key components and other NCI-sponsored programs and investigators.
The NCI Scientific Review Officer (SRO) serves as the Designated Federal Official (DFO) with legal
responsibility for managing the review and ensuring that the review is conducted according to
relevant laws, regulations, policies, and established NIH and NCI policies and procedures. The
SRO provides guidance and direction with respect to review policies, procedures and criteria; the
functions of the NCI staff; conflict of interest policies; implications of the Privacy Act; the need
for confidentiality of the proceedings; the necessity of addressing gender, minority, and children
representation in clinical study populations; and other policy and logistical matters. During the
review, the NCTN Lead Program Director serves as a resource, as needed, concerning the history
and development of the NCTN Program and other relevant programmatic matters.
� The NCI is committed to the conduct of impartial, high-quality peer review of grant
applications submitted by the scientific community and to the maintenance of an objective
review process.
� The Division of Extramural Activities, NCI, which is responsible for managing the peer review
of the NCTN Program applications, is organizationally independent from the NCI extramural
program units. The Division of Extramural Activities has responsibility for and autonomy in
the conduct of review activities.
� The conduct of peer review of the NCTN Program applications shall be in all particulars
consistent with, and subject to, applicable NIH and PHS peer review practices and policies.
� NCI SROs are responsible for managing the scientific and technical review of the NCTN
Program applications, including the selection of reviewers; management of Special Emphasis
Panels (SEPs); and the documentation of review panel findings and recommendations.
� The responsibility for communications between the applicant and NCI staff changes during
the various phases of the application process. Prior to submission of the application,
NCI/DCTD staff members are the appropriate contact. From submission of the application
until the peer review has been completed, all contacts should be made through the SRO.
Page 151 of 241