BLR&D/CSR&D Merit Review Program

The Merit Review Award Program is an intramural funding mechanism to support investigator-initiated research conducted by eligible VA investigators at VA medical centers or VA-approved sites. This program is BLR&D/CSR&D's principal mechanism for funding basic, preclinical biomedical and behavioral studies as well as clinical studies of disorders and diseases of importance to the health of veterans.

• Merit Review Award Program, VHA Handbook 1202.1 (53 KB, PDF) - This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook clarifies policy and establishes procedures for the Merit Review Award Program for the Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development (BLR&D) and Clinical Science Research and Development (CSR&D) services.
• Merit Review Award Program—Guidance Documents
  • Instructions for Preparing and Submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Exceed Budget Caps (37 KB, Word)
  • UPDATED! Requesting Acceptance into the Intramural Research Program for Non-Clinician Scientists (62 KB, PDF)
    • Nomination Letter Template (51 KB, PDF)
  • Merit Review Process (35 KB, Word)
  • UPDATED! Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Rules (35 KB, Word)
  • Purview of BLR&D and CSR&D Merit Review Panels (37 KB, Word)
  • Merit Review Appeal Process (31 KB, Word)
• Merit Review Panels
• Merit Review Success Rates
• Merit Review Calendar
• Merit Review Contact
• VA ORD Forms
• Requirements for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research,VHA Handbook 1200.5 (445 KB, PDF) - This Handbook prescribes procedures for the protection of human subjects in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research.
• Control of Hazardous Materials in VA Research Laboratories, VHA Directive 1200.6 (412 KB, PDF) - This Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Handbook establishes policy and guidance related to select agents and toxins and the prevention and/or detection of terrorist events occurring in or originating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research laboratories.
  NOTE: The policies contained in this Handbook apply to all Research and Development (R&D) laboratories located within VA facilities, including leased space, and to space within a VA facility leased to a private entity. VA research laboratories located in approved off-site facilities such as affiliate universities are expected to comply with all VA and other Federal laws and regulations regarding security of both research laboratory facilities and select agents and toxins.

BLR&D/CSR&D Eligibility

• Licensed clinicians must have a VA-paid clinical appointment of at least 5/8ths time to receive funding. Please contact the Chief of Staff at the local VA Medical Center to learn about clinical opportunities.
• Nonclinicians must become eligible to receive VA funding, and, if funded, must become a VA employee. Current VA employees must still apply for eligibility. To learn about opportunities in VA research, contact the Associate Chief of Staff for Research (ACOS/R) or Administrative Officer of Research (AO/R) in the research office at the local VA Medical Center.