What is the Advisory Council?
Each Institute of the National Institutes of Health maintains a national advisory council which has two general functions: (1) to advise the Institute on policy and procedures affecting the extramural research programs and (2) to provide a second level of review for all grant and cooperative agreement applications considered by the Institute for funding. Except for fellowships, the NINDS may not award a grant unless it has been recommended for support by the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council.
The NANDS Council meets regularly three times a year: in early February, late May, and mid-September. Each meeting of the NANDS Council is about one and one half days long. A portion of this meeting is open to the public and the remainder is a closed confidential session devoted primarily to the review of applications.
In addition to application review, the NINDS Director utilizes the expertise and experience of NANDS Council members for activities such as the following:
- Program planning
- Concept clearance for NINDS initiatives
- Review of Board of Scientific Counselor reports on intramural research programs
- Review of objectives, priorities and accomplishments of the Institute's extramural program
The NANDSC provides the final review for all applications for research grants, training grants, and career development awards assigned to the NINDS, as well as for other requests for support for which Council approval is required by law. The NANDSC also provides clearance for concepts for new NINDS research initiatives involving set-aside funds.
Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
| Meeting Dates | Location |
|---|---|
May 20, 2026 (Spring Council Open Session) | Virtual Meeting |
| September 9 - September 10, 2026 | Virtual Meeting |
| February 10 - February 11, 2027 | Virtual Meeting |
| May 19 - May 20, 2027 | Neuroscience Center Building |
| September 8- September 9, 2027 | Neuroscience Center Building |
View Upcoming NANDSC Meeting Events
Past Meetings (2021 - Present)
Event details include meeting agendas, minutes and videocast when available.
Past Meetings (2015 - 2020)
September 9-10, 2020
May 27-28, 2020
February 5-6, 2020
September 4-5, 2019
May 23-24, 2019
February 14-15, 2019
September 12-13, 2018
May 24, 2018
February 1, 2018
September 7, 2017
May 18, 2017
February 9, 2017
September 15, 2016
May 26-27, 2016
February 4-5, 2016
September 10-11, 2015
Resources and Tools
Contacts
Tim Lyden | Council Program Specialist, Office of Extramural Administration
timothy.lyden@nih.gov