Working Group Members

The High-Risk, High-Reward Research working group is a trans-NIH team that oversees the development, administration, communication, and assessment of the program.

Chair

The chair leads the working group and has the authority to approve major activities and funding actions.

  • James M. Anderson, MD, PhD
    Director, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Common Fund Leadership Team

The Common Fund team coordinates working group activities and is responsible for day-to-day leadership and program management.

Director:

  • Elizabeth L. Wilder, PhD
    Director, Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Program:

  • Ravi Basavappa, PhD
    Program Leader
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
     
  • Becky Miller, PhD
    Program Officer
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
     

Communications & Outreach:

  • Makyba Charles-Ayinde, Ph.D.
    Strategic Planning, Evaluation, and Communications Contact
    Health Science Policy Analyst
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health

Operations & Grants Management:

  • Michael Morse
    Grants Management Advisor
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
     
  • Ellie Murcia, M.Ed.
    Business Operations and Analysis Contact
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Scientific Review Officers

Scientific Review Officers oversee the review process and are responsible for ensuring that each application receives an objective and fair initial peer review, and that all applicable laws, regulations, and policies are followed.

Pioneer Award:

  • James Mack, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)

Transformative Research Award:

  • James Li, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies Integrated Review Group
    Division of Basic and Integrative Biological Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)

Early Independence Award:

  • Suzanne Ryan, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Population Sciences and Epidemiology Integrated Review Group
    Division of AIDS, Behavior and Population Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
     

New Innovator Award:

  • Eugene Carstea, PhD
    IRG Chief
    Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences Integrated Review Group
    Division of Translational and Clinical Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
     
  • Imoh Okon, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences Integrated Review Group
    Division of Translational and Clinical Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
     

NIH Institute/Center Members

Working group members are staff from multiple NIH institutes and centers. They are the liaisons between the program and their institute or center and are tasked with formulating policies and procedures and assisting in the administration of the program. Nearly every funding NIH institute and center has a representative on the working group.

  • Kristin Abraham, PhD
    Senior Advisor
    Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
     
  • Hugh Auchincloss, MD
    Deputy Director
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
     
  • David Balshaw, PhD (Alternate)
    Program Director
    Center for Risk and Integrated Sciences
    Division of Extramural Research and Training
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
     
  • Abraham P. Bautista, PhD
    Director
    Office of Extramural Activities
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
     
  • Robert H. Carter, MD
    Deputy Director
    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
     
  • Jennifer Collins, MR
    Health Specialist
    Exposure, Response, and Technology Branch
    Division of Extramural Research and Training
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
     
  • Christine Colvis, PhD
    Program Director
    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
     
  • Emmeline Edwards, PhD 
    Director, Division of Extramural Research
    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
     
  • Zeynep Erim, PhD
    Acting Director, Division of Interdisciplinary Training
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
     
  • Rene Etcheberrigaray, MD
    Senior Scientific Advisor to the Director of Extramural Activities
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)

  • Nancy Freeman, PhD
    Program Officer
    Division of Scientific Programs
    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
     
  • Jane Hettinger, PhD (Alternate)
    Health Program Specialist
    Division of Neuroscience
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
     
  • Gabriel Hidalgo
    Deputy Director
    Grants Management Branch
    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
     
  • Christine M. Hunter, PhD, ABPP
    Deputy Director
    Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director (OD)
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
     
  • Raymond Jacobson, PhD
    IRG Chief
    Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics Integrated Review Group
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
     
  • Flora Katz, PhD
    Director of the Division of International training and Research
    Fogarty International Center (FIC)
     
  • Anthony Kirilusha, PhD
    Program Director
    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
     
  • Susan Koester, PhD
    Deputy Division Director
    Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
     
  • Roger Little, PhD
    Deputy Division Director
    Division of Basic Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
     
  • Brett Miller, PhD
    Program Director
    Reading, Writing, & Related Learning Disabilities Research Program
    Child Development & Behavior Branch
    Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
     
  • Daniel Miller, PhD
    Program Director
    Neurodegeneration
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
     
  • David Miller, PhD
    Program Director
    Division of Cancer Biology
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
     
  • Richard C. Palmer, DrPH, JD
    Deputy Director for Extramural Programs
    Acting Director for Extramural Programs
    National Library of Medicine (NLM)
     
  • Steven Pittenger, PhD
    Program Officer
    Drug Development Partnership Programs
    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
     
  • Srikanth Ranganathan, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences Integrated Review Group
    Division of Translational and Clinical Sciences
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
     
  • Diana (Dede) Rutberg, MBA
    Chief Grants Management Officer
    Division of Extramural Activities
    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
     
  • John Satterlee, PhD (Alternate)
    Program Director
    Division of Basic Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
     
  • Carol Shreffler, PhD
    Health Science Administrator
    Division of Extramural Research and Training
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
     
  • Lillian Shum, PhD
    Director, Division of Extramural Research
    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
     
  • Darren Sledjeski, PhD
    Deputy Director, Division of Extramural Activities
    National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
     
  • Heidi J. Sofia, PhD
    Program Director
    Division of Genomic Medicine
    National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
     
  • Barbara C. Sorkin, PhD 
    Office of Dietary Supplements
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
     
  • Michael A. Steinmetz, PhD
    Acting Director, Division of Extramural Research
    National Eye Institute (NEI)
     
  • Nathaniel Stinson, Jr., PhD, MD
    Acting Director, Office of Scientific Programs
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
     
  • Stephanie Johnson Webb, PhD
    Scientific Review Officer
    Division of Extramural Research Activities
    National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
     

This page last reviewed on September 9, 2021