NIH Announces Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration

posted: November 7, 2008

Two NIH Regional Seminars are planned for 2009 covering topics related to NIH extramural program funding and grants administration.

Each Regional Seminar encompasses two full days, providing information about the NIH funding process, from opportunity identification and application preparation through post award administration. Presentations are targeted towards research administrators, new investigators, post docs and trainees. Opportunities for informal interactions between seminar participants and NIH grants management, program, policy, and review staff are incorporated into the program and such interactions are highly encouraged. NIH electronic research administration (eRA) computer workshops are offered on a day adjacent to the two day seminar.

The 2009 seminars will be held at the following locations:
April 16-17, 2009 – Atlanta, Georgia. This two day seminar is co-hosted by Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology. The eRA computer workshops will be offered on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 for an additional registration fee. The seminar and workshops will take place at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

June 25-26, 2009 – Las Vegas, Nevada. This two day seminar will be held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel Resort and Spa. Co-ambassadors for this event are the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Reno. Optional NIH electronic research administration computer workshops will be offered on Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

For more information:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-012.html

NIH Announces Revised "New and Early Stage Investigator" Policies

posted: November 7, 2008

This notice describes changes in New Investigator policies stemming from the NIH Enhancing Peer Review Initiative. Under this new policy, the NIH intends to support New Investigators at success rates comparable to those for established investigators submitting new applications. Early Stage Investigators (ESIs), as previously described on September 26, 2008, should comprise a majority of the New Investigators supported. Where possible, New Investigator applications will be clustered during review. This notice also advises New Investigators and ESIs that these NIH New Investigator Policies are limited to applications for traditional research project grant (R01) support. Accordingly, the NIH strongly encourages New Investigators, particularly ESIs, to apply for R01 grants when seeking first-time NIH funding.

Link to notice:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-013.html

NIH Institutes "Two Strikes" Policy

posted: October 8, 2008

NIH announces a change in the existing policy on resubmission (amended) applications. Beginning with original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal applications submitted for the January 25, 2009 due dates and beyond, the NIH will accept only a single amendment to the original application. Failure to receive funding after two submissions (i.e., the original and the single amendment) will mean that the applicant should substantially re-design the project rather than simply change the application in response to previous reviews. It is expected that this policy will lead to funding high quality applications earlier, with fewer resubmissions.

Link to notice:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-003.html

NSF Announces new Proposal Guidelines effective January 5, 2009

posted: October 6, 2008

The National Science Foundation has issued their new Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPP) which goes into effect on January 5, 2009. The biggest change is on senior personnel salary guidelines:

"As a general policy, NSF limits salary compensation for senior project personnel to no more than two months of their regular salary in any one year. This limit includes salary compensation received from all NSF-funded grants. This effort must be documented in accordance with the applicable cost principles. If anticipated, any compensation for such personnel in excess of two months must be disclosed in the proposal budget, justified in the budget justification, and must be specifically approved by NSF in the award notice."

While the previous guidelines allow for senior personnel to be compensated as per their effort on the grant project, this change limits PIs to 2 months on all their NSF grants, should they have more than one, combined.

Link to notice:

http://nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/papp/papp09_1/notice.jsp

Link to new guidelines:

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf091

Director of the Center for Scientific Review, NIH, speaks in New York City

posted: September 12, 2008

On October 21, 2008, Antonio Scarpa, MD, PhD, will speak at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center on "Challenges and Opportunities in Peer Review: A Vision for Ensuring Its Strategic National Value." Entrance to the lecture is free, but seats are limited, so MSKCC requests that interested parties fill out and return the registration form.

Link to flyer/registration form:

/images/academics/Office_of_Research/OSP/Scarpa_flyer.pdf

NSF releases "Dear Colleague" letter with tips regarding the broader impacts review criteria

posted: July 31, 2008

The letter intends to "clarify what is meant by broader impacts and how it is applied by Program Directors in making their final decisions." Examples are provided to illustrate what is expected from PIs.

Link to Dear Colleague letter:

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08062/nsf08062.pdf

From National Science Foundation

Grants.gov webcast provides news regarding Adobe application packages

posted: July 16, 2008

As of June 30th, agencies are no longer posting opportunity packages in PureEdge and instead will be switching over to using Adobe. Many agencies are already using Adobe and many more will be transitioning between September and December of this year. On June 30, 2009, the PureEdge system will officially be retired. Versions of Adobe currently compatible with the Grants.gov packages are Adobe Reader 8.1.1, 8.1.2 and Adobe Acrobat 9.0.

Link to Grants.gov webcast:

http://grants.gov/help/stakeholder_communications.jsp

From Federal Grants News

The NIMH announces its Leadership Training Institute

posted: July 7, 2008

The Leadership Training Institute (LTI) is a 4-day free NIMH-funded intensive institute for early to mid-level social and behavioral researchers who are women and/or persons of color. The goals of the LTI are specifically designed to: (1) help researchers establish career goals that match with personal and professional priorities; (2) address specific challenges and opportunities for diverse researchers; (3) navigate the funding world at various career stages; (4) build networks to support research and career advancement; and (5) expand research team management and leadership skills. Applications are due by August 1, 2008.

Link for more information:

http://lti.4researchers.org/

Link to application:

https://www.4researchers.org/lti/surveys/take/2872/1

From The National Institute of MentalHealth

New (Federal) interagency standard terms and conditions go into effect July 1, 2008

posted: June 20, 2008

The National Science and Technology Council has been working since January on universal research terms and conditions for Federal awards. Some Federal sponsors, such as the NSF, are putting these new terms into place as of July 1.

Link to the notice:

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/rtc/rtcnotice0608.pdf?govDel=USNSF_109

Link to further information including agency-specific terms and conditions:

http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rtc/index.jsp

From The National Science Foundation

Amended Executive Order 12989 requires use of E-Verify website

posted: June 9, 2008

All colleges and universities entering into federal-government contracts will be required to use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system to establish the immigration status of newly hired employees and all employees working on such contracts, under an executive order signed this week by President Bush.

Link to E.O. 12989:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080609-2.html

Link to E-Verify site, part of the DHS:

Department of Homeland Security

The NIH provides tips on complying with their Public Access Policy

posted: May 25, 2008

From the NIH: "As of May 25, 2008, NIH applications, proposals, and progress reports must include the PubMed Central reference number when citing a paper that falls under the policy and is authored or co-authored by the investigator, or arose from the investigator’s NIH award. This policy includes applications submitted to the NIH for the May 25, 2008 due date and subsequent due dates."

Link to further guidance:

http://publicaccess.nih.gov/

From The National Institutes of Health

The NSF reminds the research community of its merit review criteria

posted: April 7, 2008

The NSF provides advice regarding required information to be included in your application which will increase the possibility of a favorable review. The letter specifically addresses three sections: the project summary, the project description, and the results of prior support.

Link to "Dear Colleague" letter:

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08044/nsf08044.jsp

From The National Science Foundation

NIH announces salary cap increase to $191,300

posted: January 15, 2008

Link to Notice NOT-OD-08-035:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-035.html

From The National Institutes of Health