R01 NIH Mock Study Section

Training for Bench, Clinical, Biomedical, Translational and Population Health Researchers

Are you planning on submitting your first R01 proposal to the NIH for the February 2027 deadline?  Would you like to see what happens when NIH proposals are reviewed and get feedback on your proposal from established faculty?  Can you commit to having a complete draft of your Specific Aims and Research Strategy ready for review well in advance of the NIH submission deadline? (see schedule below for deadlines)

The BU CTSI will offer mock NIH study sections in mid-December and mid-January for BU faculty who have not previously received R01-level funding from the NIH.  (Participation is free.  Space is limited to four participants per date, who will be selected based on a competitive application process focused on evaluating proposal and applicant readiness.)

The mock study sections will be:

Monday, December 14, 2026, from 1–4 pm (Evans 720)

Tuesday, January 12, 2027, from 1–4 pm (TBA)

The sessions will be held on the Medical Campus.  There will be an option to participate in the study sections via Zoom for those otherwise unable to participate, but in-person attendance is strongly encouraged.

Note:  If you are planning on submitting your first R01 proposal for the June 2027 deadline, the BU CTSI will also sponsor a seven-session R01 Proposal Writing Workshop that will meet starting in February 2027.  This workshop will conclude with a similar mock study section for workshop participants in early May 2027.  More information is coming soon!

Program participants will:

  • Have their proposal reviewed by three faculty with extensive experience as reviewers for the NIH.
  • Attend a single three-hour session to observe faculty reviewing the proposals using the same meeting format as an NIH study section.
  • Receive written feedback similar to an NIH “Summary Statement.”
  • Be able to incorporate feedback from the mock study section as you revise your proposal before submission to the NIH.
Schedule
  • Applications to participate in either mock study section are due Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET.
  • Accepted participants will be notified no later than Monday, November 2, 2026.
  • Participants in the December 14, 2026, mock study section must submit their R01 proposals (one-page Specific Aims and complete 12-page Research Strategy in NIH format as a PDF) for review no later than 5 pm ET Thursday, November 19, 2026.
  • Participants in the January 12, 2027, mock study section must submit their R01 proposals (one-page Specific Aims and complete 12-page Research Strategy in NIH format as a PDF) for review no later than 5 pm ET Thursday, December 10, 2026.
  • Participants who are unable to submit their proposals prior to the deadline for their session will not have an opportunity to have their proposal reviewed.
  • Mock study sections will be held on the dates indicated above.
  • Participants will receive their Summary Statement within seven days of the mock study section meeting.
Eligibility Requirements
  • BU faculty members on both the Medical and Charles River Campuses who plan to submit their first R01 proposal as Principal Investigator (single PI) or Contact PI (for multi-PI proposals) for the February 5, 2027, deadline.
  • Can commit to having a complete R01 proposal ready for review no later than the deadlines indicated above.
  • Can commit to attending the Mock NIH R01 Study Section session to which they are applying.
  • Investigators with current or previous R01, R35, R37, DP1/DP2, or U01 funding are not eligible.
Application Components & Questions

Applications for the Mock NIH R01 Study Section are due on October 26, 2026 (11:59 pm ET).

Complete your application in the portal here.

Required components:

  • NIH SciENcv Biosketch (for all PIs if a multi-PI proposal)
  • Draft Specific Aims page
  • List of anticipated key personnel (for identifying non-conflicted reviewers)
  • A list of eight potential reviewers (with email addresses).  Suggested reviewers should be individuals who have current or previous R01-level funding.  Reviewers should not be part of your current mentoring or co-investigator team, but they will likely have suggestions about who you could suggest. BU Profiles (https://profiles.bu.edu) is another way to identify potential reviewers.  BU-affiliated reviewers are preferred, but external experts who are not collaborators and are familiar with your work can be included.
Course Directors:
Marc Lenburg, PhD | BU-Profile; Weining Lu, MD | BU-Profile

For questions regarding the application, please contact CTSI Services at ctsisvcs@bu.edu