Based on National Institutes of Health-published data (Peer Review Trends 1981-1991, DRG Study Section Trends, FY 83-92, Statistics, Analysis and Education Section, Information Systems Branch, Division of Research Grants, NIH), there is a steady decline in success rates for obtaining a new NIH grant with age. Applicants aged 26-30 are approximately two- to threefold more successful in the award of a new R01 than applicants older than 51.
It has been my experience on (two) NIH study sections that age per se is not cited in reviews. However, the majority of study section members are in an age group younger than 41-45 (DRG Study Section Trends, FY 83-92), and there is a striking parallel between the age composition of the study sections and success rates of age groups. Thus, in contrast to Donna Dean's quote in the article in The Scientist, there is not a "mix of senior and junior ...
