Dr. Elizabeth Nance has been appointed Chair of the Innovations in Nanosystems and Nanotechnology (INN) study section for the National Institutes of Health. The INN study section provides peer review for applications related to the development of new materials that focus on exploiting properties of the nanoscale. Applications that are eventually funded have the potential to advance gene and drug delivery, improve diagnostic approaches and lead to new technologies.
Nance will serve a three-year term as Chair of the INN section, starting in October 2026. As chair, Nance will “facilitate high quality, fair, and unbiased peer review of applications,” she says. “Investigators put a substantial amount of time into preparing grant applications, and the study section chair works in partnership with the scientific review officer and the study section members to honor this work and evaluate the ideas being put forward.”
Study sections are typically composed of 20 to 30 researchers, clinicians and subject-matter experts. Nance previously served as a reviewer on the INN study section and as an ad-hoc member of other study sections.
The study section recommends applications for funding based on the significance of the proposed research, the feasibility of the proposed approach, and whether the proposed team and resources are appropriate for the work. The study sections provide quality control for research proposals, ensuring “public funds support high-quality, feasible and impactful scientific projects,” Nance says.
Originally published September 8, 2026