Peer review of grant applications is the cornerstone of the US research enterprise. Scientists are routinely asked to serve as peer reviewers for several public and private funding agencies in the United States and abroad. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is by far the largest funder of academic research. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) evaluates most grant applications submitted to NIH. CSR assigns grant applications to study sections—groups of 20–40 scientists who are leaders and experts focused on a particular research field  charged with reviewing applications. Each study section is managed by one of CSR’s Scientific Review Officers.

 Dr. Shah has been invited by CSR  to serve on a 2019 NIH study section to review applications related to oral biology and machine learning  and imaging technologies.

The Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS) study section reviews applications on oral microbiology, oral immunology, periodontology, cariology, salivary gland biology, pathophysiology, and clinical studies of oral diseases using advanced technologies.