4 Comments
NIH will require the use of updated application forms and instructions (FORMS-F) for due dates on or after May 25, 2020 (NOT-OD-20-026). A preview of form changes and clarification of how the changes impact research training grant, fellowship, and career development award applications (NOT-OD-20-033) are already available. Additional details will be posted early next year.
In the meantime, continue to use FORMS-E application packages for due dates on or before May 24, 2020 despite the expiration dates noted on each form (NOT-OD-20-047). We are working with the Office of Management and Budget to renew our forms and new expiration dates will be reflected on our forms when the FORMS-F application packages are posted.
Please stop the bureaucratic creep. These types of changes make lots of work for applicants and their administrators but there is rarely an explanation nor obvious reason that changes in applications are designed to improve things for the investigator. They appear to be solely for the NIH and therefore should be justified.
I would like to echo Hank’s comments. We spend so much time to write unfunded grants. NIH should help us fund good science. Changing forms consistently is not the way to advancing our knowledge and improving health. Please stop the bureaucracy.
I would agree with the comments above and join the plea against changing the forms, which creates a huge headache for the applicants.
I also concur with Hank but it looks like most of the changes highlighted in the NOT-OD-20-026 are just changes in expiration dates listed on forms, and a few more for forms related to specific items or issues have updated check boxes and notations. So perhaps we are catching a break here, but would be good to see if anyone can find anything significant here that would impact investigator-initiated applications.