2014 By the Numbers

December 31, 2014

Application and award summary data for fiscal year 2014 are now available in the NIH Data Book. These data are of particular interest for all of us this year, considering the historic low of the success rate last year, and the reduction of NIH’s budget in fiscal year 2013, due to sequestration. For this reason, in the table below, we include both FY2013 and FY 2012 data for comparison purposes. ….

How Do I Address and Mark Changes in My Re-submission (A1) Application?

December 29, 2014

When submitting a resubmission application (“A1”), you should respond as thoroughly as possible to all of the reviewers’ comments in the “Introduction” attachment found on the PHS 398 Research Plan or equivalent form (i.e., PHS 398 Training Program Plan, PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form, or PHS 398 Career Development Award Supplemental Form). The Introduction should include … Continue reading “How Do I Address and Mark Changes in My Re-submission (A1) Application?”

Simplifying the NIH Late Policy for Application Submission

December 29, 2014

NIH expects applications to be submitted on-time. On those rare occasions when on-time submission isn’t possible (e.g., sudden severe illness of the PD/PI or the PD/PI’s immediate family member), NIH has a late policy that was just simplified to be more consistent across program announcements and requests for applications. ….

Learn More About Laboratory Animal Welfare Oversight

December 23, 2014

Earlier this month, the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) made several resources available to provide researchers and administrators with federal perspectives on the oversight of research involving animal models. In early December, OLAW and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) division published announcements ….

SBIR/STTR Due Dates Are Changing

December 23, 2014

NIH’s standard due dates for the small business innovation research (SBIR) and small business technology transfer research (STTR) programs are changing. These changes are in response to….

Transport of Research Material Containing Infectious Agents or Other Biological Hazards

December 22, 2014

We’ve received some questions about shipment and receipt of biological samples, particularly in the context of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa; for example, whether grantees can accept biological materials from Africa, and whether NIH has in place any requirements for transporting such research materials. In light of these incoming questions, I think this is a good time to remind you that a number of regulations are in place to ensure ….

Tune in to the ACD Meeting Today and Friday

December 11, 2014

I’m at the December Advisory Council to the Director (ACD) meeting today and tomorrow. Several updates and reports from ACD working groups are on the agenda.

Today, we’ll discuss the whirlwind of activities that NIH and HHS have been involved in related to the 2014 Ebola crisis, and we’ll hear updates on peer review evaluation and workforce diversity efforts. I’ll also be co-presenting with Dr. Sherry Mills, director of the Office of Extramural Programs within OER, and co-chair of the ACD’s Physician-Scientist Workforce working group. ….