NEOMED scientists share expertise in NIH study sections

Each year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) receive tens of thousands of applications for grant awards. Researchers from Northeast Ohio Medical University are among the expert peer reviewers who are called on to help ensure that NIH-funded projects advance biomedical research.

Service on an NIH Scientific Review Group, or study section, represents a significant commitment of professional time and energy. It is also a unique opportunity to contribute to national biomedical research efforts. NIH invests more than $35 billion each year in biomedical research awarded through competitive grants. Through their evaluation of scientific merit of NIH grant proposals, peer reviewers play a critical role in scientific advances and support a core tenet of NIH’s Unified Funding Strategy.

Peer reviewers also have the potential to contribute to their institution by sharing the first-hand knowledge of the peer review process with colleagues.

Reviewers are selected based on their achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by their research accomplishments, publications and other significant scientific activities and honors.

“NEOMED is proud that our faculty are contributing to shaping the future of biomedical research in the U.S.,” said Rebecca German, Ph.D., vice president for research and professor of biomedical sciences. “Serving on a review panel or study section is a non-trivial contribution of time, hard work and intelligence, but one with the potential to determine the direction of future research. NEOMED is honored to have faculty of this quality contributing to the research mission of this country.”

Below is a list of NEOMED faculty who served as NIH peer reviewers in 2025. Their efforts and commitment uphold the integrity of the peer review process and advance NIH’s mission to improve health through science. 

• William M. Chilian, Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences
• Christine Dengler Crish, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences
• Feng Dong, M.D., PhD., associate professor of biomedical sciences
• Sheila Fleming, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences
• Rebecca Z. German, Ph.D., vice president for research, professor of biomedical sciences
• Takhar Kasumov, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences
• Moses O Oyewumi, Ph.D., professor and chair of pharmaceutical sciences
• Erin G. Reed, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences
• Merri J. Rosen, Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences
• Ping Zhang, M.D., PhD., professor of biomedical sciences and Watanakunakorn Chair of Integrative Medical Sciences