How are the abstracts judged?
After receiving the submission, all identifying information is deleted except for an internal tracking number, and the abstract is designated to one of the 54 study sections. All attempts are made to place each abstract in the first-choice study section; however, the earlier you submit your abstract, the more likely it will be placed in your first-choice study section (see below). The abstracts in each section are judged by a panel of five NIH scientists–three postdoctoral fellows and two tenured/tenure-track investigators or staff scientists. The postdoctoral fellow judges are either members of the NIH Fellows Committee or a previous year FARE winner. Tenured/tenure-track investigators and staff scientists are from a volunteer pool. Every effort will be made to adhere to this panel; however, in the event that all five judges are not able to submit a review in a timely manner, a minimum of three judges will be considered a complete review when necessary. The names of individual judges
