CLL Society’s Research Program Selection and Review Process
CLL Society recognizes the importance of including expertise from healthcare professionals in the field of CLL and SLL to guide our Research Program award decisions. Those working at the ground level treating patients, many of whom are already involved in research themselves, have the greatest understanding of what needs remain and can best identify the most promising research proposals for CLL Society to fund.
This is why CLL Society establishes Research Review Committees for each grant type annually. Committees are comprised of many volunteers from our dedicated Medical Advisory Board and our Expert Medical Council. The chair and co-chair of each Research Review Committee are responsible for ensuring each research proposal is scored and critiqued according to established CLL Society processes. All applicants are evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, as well as how well the proposal addresses CLL Society’s Research Program Objectives. Reviewers will not be allowed to score or critique any proposals for which there is any actual or perceived conflict of interest. Each application will be reviewed by multiple peer reviewers whose responsibility is to score and critique each proposal in the following areas: Significance, Investigator, Innovation, Approach, and Environment.
The Research Review Committees utilize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) rating scale criteria. As a final step in the selection process, each Research Review Committee will meet to discuss all of the applicant’s scores and make their final decision.
All applications, critiques, and scores are considered confidential and are made available only to the applicant, members of each Research Review Committee, and CLL Society Research Program staff. While CLL Society aims to protect the confidentiality of each researcher, proposal, and evaluation materials, confidentiality may not always be guaranteed. Submitted proposals become the property of CLL Society and cannot be returned.
Regardless of the outcome, all applicants will receive a notification via email that is generated by ProposalCentral once decisions are final. After receiving this email, applicants then have access to view the Research Review Committee’s scores and critiques.
CLL Society reserves the right to not grant an award should members of any Research Review Committee unanimously decide that the proposals received did not meet the necessary criteria and standards set forth by CLL Society.
