Online Topic Submission Form

NIH Consensus Development Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Program produces evidence-based consensus statements addressing controversial medical issues important to health care providers, policymakers, patients, researchers, and the general public.

The following major criteria must be met for a topic to qualify for the Consensus Development Program. Topics must:

• Have clinical and broad public health importance – the severity of the problem and the feasibility of interventions are key considerations.
• Be controversial or unresolved and amenable to clarification, or reflect a gap between current knowledge and practice that can be narrowed.
• Have an adequately defined base of scientific information from which to answer conference questions.
• Be of cross-cutting concern to a variety of stakeholders.

How to Submit a Conference Topic for Consideration

Topics for NIH Consensus Development Conferences address a wide range of subjects and may be suggested by an Institute, Center, or Office within NIH, other government agencies, or external groups such as professional societies and advocacy organizations. Visit our Online Topic Submission Form to provide the following information and submit your topic proposal:

• Brief description of the topic, problem, or gap between knowledge and practice.
• Public health impact (e.g., incidence, prevalence, mortality, economic burden).
• Key questions about the topic to be addressed.
• Brief description of your organization’s willingness to engage in the planning process and participate in post-conference dissemination efforts.

Topic proposals are reviewed on an annual basis by the NIH Prevention Research Coordinating Committee with ad hoc reviewers from across the NIH. Feedback is provided on all submitted topics and proposals may be resubmitted for consideration.