Agency, News and Updates 2016

REVISED SF424 (R&R) APPLICATION GUIDES and INSTRUCTIONS

Available for Application Due Dates On and Between January 25, 2016 and May 24, 2016

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-16-029.html

The revised FORMS-C package   implements the first phase of policy, forms and instruction updates. Phase 2 will complete this process with the introduction of new forms (referred to as FORMS-D) issued on or after May 25, 2016

Major changes include:

• Instructions to accommodate changes described in NOT-OD-16-004 under Phase I Changes (see notice for full descriptions).
  • Research Plan* – new research strategy and resources forms and vertebrate animal instructions.
  • Research Plan* – new definition of child (under 18 years old)
  • Research Training – requirement to provide full list of potential grants and associated IRB/IACUC information is replaced by statement ensuring that trainees will work on IRB/IACUC approved research (see notice for details).
  • Research Training – progress report requirement to report trainee publications, moved to Just-in-Time.
  • Fellowship application instructions are no longer a separate document and have been incorporated into the general instructions.

*Applies to both contracts and grants.

RIGOR and REPRODUCTIBILITY

http://grants.nih.gov/reproducibility/index.htm

For grant applications due on January 25, 2016 and beyond, revised application instructions and review language focus on four areas deemed important for enhancing rigor and transparency.

Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-16-011.html

This notice informs the biomedical research community of updates to application instructions and review language intended to enhance the reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency. These updates will take effect for most* research grant applications (including small business and complex research grant applications) submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2016. For research contracts, this policy will be effective for proposals received on/after January 25, 2016 and expected to result in contract awards in Fiscal Year 2017 and beyond. 

Updates include:

• Revisions to application guide instructions for preparing your research strategy attachment
• Use of a new "Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources" attachment
• Additional rigor and transparency questions reviewers will be asked to consider when reviewing applications 

NIH SALARY CAP EFFECTIVE JANAUARY 10, 2016

NIH has published updated information regarding the Fiscal Year 2016 salary limitation under NIH Notice NOT-OD-16-045.  The Executive Level II salary level will increase to $185,100 effective January 10, 2016. Going forward, the OGSR will use the new salary cap on all new, renewal, supplement or resubmission NIH proposals. Your designated OGSR grants Specialist will address all questions concerning the cap during initial preparations of your proposal.