NINDS Office of Research Quality

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The NINDS Office of Research Quality (ORQ) is dedicated to promoting:

• Experimental and analytical rigor
• Measures to reduce bias
• Transparent reporting
• High-quality scientific research

As described in the 2021-2026 NINDS Strategic Plan, NINDS is dedicated to increasing attention to principles of good study design and transparent reporting, which are integral to research quality. These principles are essential to enable the scientific community, as well as the community at large, to assess the value of scientific findings. You may learn more about ORQ below or contact us for more information.

ORQ Contact Information

Shai Silberberg, Ph.D. | Director, Research Quality
SilberbS@ninds.nih.gov

Devon Crawford, Ph.D. | Program Director
devon.crawford@nih.gov

Mariah Hoye, Ph.D. | Project Manager
mariah.hoye@nih.gov

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NINDS/ORQ Video Presentations

• Enhancing the Value of Research Findings: Activities at NINDS and Beyond by NINDS ORQ and OTWD staff (NINDS OPEN Stage Webinar Series, August, 2023)
• Addressing Publication Bias in Biomedical Research by Shai Silberberg (NANDS Council Meeting, September, 2022)
• Scientific Rigor and Transparency by Devon Crawford (NIH Clinical and Translational Research Summer Course, recorded May, 2021)
• Rigor and Transparency in Research by Devon Crawford (NINDS Metabolism-Based Therapies for Epilepsy Workshop, November, 2020)
• When Rigor Goes Wrong by Shai Silberberg (NINDS R25 Grantee Workshop, March, 2018)
• NINDS Historical Perspective on Research Rigor by Shai Silberberg (NIH Workshop on Reproducibility in Cell Culture Studies, October, 2015)
• Improving the Quality of Preclinical Research Through More Rigorous Study Design and Transparent Reporting by Story Landis (NIH ACD Meeting, June, 2013)

NIH and NINDS Guide Announcements 

• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements to Active NIH Awards to Support Replication Studies Using Independent Contract Resources (NOT-RM-24-013)
• NINDS Sustainable Transformation of Institutional Research Rigor (STIRR) (RFA-NS-25-019)
• Materials to Enhance Training in Experimental Rigor (METER) (RFA-NS-25-002)
• Request for Information on Potential Solutions for Reducing Publication Bias Against Null Studies (NOT-NS-24-052)
• NINDS Announces Plans to Publish the “NINDS Rigor Champions Prize” Challenge Competition (NOT-NS-23-085)
• NIH Encourages the Use of the ARRIVE Essential 10 Checklist in all Publications Reporting on the Results of Vertebrate Animal and Cephalopod Research (NOT-OD-23-057)
• Creating an Educational Nexus for Training in Experimental Rigor (CENTER) (RFA-NS-21-009)
• NIH and AHRQ Announce Upcoming Changes to Policies, Instructions and Forms for Research Training Grant, Fellowship, and Career Development Award Applications (NOT-OD-20-033)
• NIH & AHRQ Announce Upcoming Updates to Application Instructions and Review Criteria for Research Grant Applications (NOT-OD-18-228)
• Improving the Quality of NINDS-Supported Preclinical and Clinical Research through Rigorous Study Design and Transparent Reporting (NOT-NS-11-023)

NINDS/ORQ Events

• NINDS Webinar: Winners of the Inaugural NINDS Rigor Champions Prize (April 23, 2025)
• NINDS Workshop: Novel Approaches to Preventing Publication Bias (May 20-21, 2024)
• NINDS OPEN Stage Webinar: Enhancing the Value of Research Findings: Activities at NINDS and Beyond (August 1, 2023)
• NINDS Workshop: Catalyzing Communities of Research Rigor Champions (May 23-24, 2022)
• NINDS Workshop: A Visionary Resource for Instilling Fundamental Principles of Rigorous Neuroscience Research (October 22-23, 2018)
• NINDS Workshop: Optimizing the Predictive Value of Preclinical Research (June 20-21, 2012)

NIH and NINDS Articles and News 

Related NIH Resources