Inclusion Across the Lifespan II Workshop: September 2, 2020

July 31, 2020

Planning clinical research studies? Tune in to the Inclusion Across the Lifespan (IAL) II virtual workshop for evidence-based practical advice for meeting the new IAL policy, with a focus on pediatric and geriatric populations. Discussions will include considerations for special populations (e.g. racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, rural/isolated populations, language minority individuals, pregnant and lactating women, people with co-morbidities, sexual and gender minorities, and other groups).

Leveraging Standardized Clinical Data to Advance Discovery

July 31, 2020

Opportunity knocks for NIH researchers, who will be able to leverage clinical data from electronic health record (EHR) systems with increased frequency and consistency. The recently published final rule, which went into effect on June 30, 2020, and requires electronic health record (EHR) systems to provide the clinical data necessary for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange through the adoption of the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) standard.

An Early Look at Applications Submitted During the Pandemic

July 28, 2020

It has been four months since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered laboratories and clinical studies across the country and the world. On April 10, only a few weeks into the pandemic, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a report describing the consequences of social distancing and other pandemic mitigation measures. These consequences included laboratory closures, de-prioritized projects, cancellation of meetings and conferences, loss of revenue, disrupted personnel processes, supply-chain interruptions, and, overlying all of these, a great deal of uncertainty. Since the CRS report was issued, we have learned more about the pandemic’s effects on non-COVID research and on the research workforce.

New Vertebrate Animals Section Training Module

July 24, 2020

Calling all applicants proposing research with vertebrate animals – check out the latest online learning module on the Vertebrate Animals Section in grant applications. This interactive module will assist applicants and offerors in preparing this section of the application, and will serve as a valuable resource for reviewers in evaluating the Vertebrate Animal Section of applications and proposals.

New “All About Grants” Podcast – Invention Reporting and Patent Protections for Grantees

July 20, 2020

In this next installment of the NIH’s All About Grants podcast series, we will get into the nuts and bolts of what NIH grantees should know about intellectual property, invention reporting, and patent protections. Scott Cooper, J.D., an Assistant Extramural Inventions Policy Officer with the NIH Office of Extramural Research, joins us virtually to discuss these topics (including invention disclosures) in more detail.

Useful Flexibilities for Animal Care and Use Programs to Comply with the PHS Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

July 20, 2020

As we continue to address the effects of COVID-19 and as some states and institutions are considering reopening, we would like to share some administrative flexibilities that NIH is providing to research institutions with laboratory animal programs. These flexibilities are meant to assure personnel safety and animal welfare while enabling research personnel to prioritize and preserve research efforts. Some of these can be useful in reducing administrative burden, too.

NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research Now Available

July 13, 2020

The NIH-Wide COVID-19 Strategic Plan, released on July 13, 2020, provides a framework describing how NIH is accelerating the development of therapeutic interventions, vaccines, and diagnostics in response to the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic. It describes how NIH is rapidly mobilizing the biomedical research community, such as through establishing new programs that leverage existing resources, to lead a swift, coordinated research response.

Addressing Foreign Interference and Associated Risks to the Integrity of Biomedical Research, and How You Can Help

July 8, 2020

On Tuesday, June 23, Dr. Kelvin Drogemeier, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), gave a presentation to the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) on “Enhancing the Security and Integrity of America’s Research Enterprise.” Dr. Drogemeier articulated five “key takeaway” messages. I’d like to take this opportunity to summarize Dr. Drogemeier’s presentation and how it fits within the context of NIH extramural research.