NIH Locks Doors for Secret Science Grant Reviews
Published Date: 12/1/2025
Notice
Summary
The NIH’s Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on December 12, 2025, to review important grant applications. This meeting was delayed due to a government shutdown but is now urgent to keep vital health research funding on track. Scientists applying for NIH grants and the public waiting on research progress are affected by this quick rescheduling.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Urgent NIH grant review rescheduled
If you are a scientist applying for an NIH grant, the Center for Scientific Review will hold a virtual meeting on December 12, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to review and evaluate grant applications. The notice says the meeting was canceled earlier because of a 43-day government shutdown and is now urgent so evaluations can be submitted for timely funding recommendations.
Meeting closed to public; limited transparency
If you are a member of the public waiting on research progress, the December 12, 2025 meeting will be closed to the public under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6). The notice states the meeting is closed because discussions could disclose confidential trade secrets, patentable material, or personal information.
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