Responding to Summary Statements Posted on January 20, 2009 Dr. Yonette Thomas advises early-career researchers how to respond to grant reviews.

The other thing I encourage PIs to do is call up. I mean you get a pink sheet, you get your summary statement, call the scientific review officer and ask questions. She may say, "Well you should talk to program," that's okay. Just ask "Was there anything else? I got asked this question, I don't fully understand. Can you give me some more insight?" They may or may not, but it's always important. I always tell people, "Ask the question."

We can come back in and say, "Okay you've got your pink sheets, go punch a hole in the wall, scream if it's horrible, settle down and come back and write the very best response. Not an aggressive response, a thoughtful okay you might be thinking that this person doesn't know what the heck they're talking about, but you don't say that. You be as thoughtful and as responsive as you can be, saying 'Well actually on page so and so I indicated this,' but you reiterate it and highlight it and be responsive to the questions." People who follow that guidance actually do well.