Institutional Training and Institutional Career Development Programs applications are transitioning to electronic submission. Beginning with submissions intended for January 25, 2010 due dates, applications must be received electronically through Grants.gov.

NIH has sent voluntary surveys to a sample of applicants and reviewers to gather opinions about the new changes to the peer review process.

In fiscal year 2009, the NIH Loan Repayment Program invested nearly $73.6 million in emerging scientists. Interested in applying? It’s not too late. Applications are being accepted for 2010 until December 1, 2009.

Changes are coming for applications due on or after January 25, 2010. Start planning now using newly developed resources.

NIH is accepting applications for Transformative Research Awards through January 22, 2010. These awards support exceptionally innovative, high-risk, original and/or unconventional research with a potentially profound impact on clinical, basic or behavorial sciences.

CRISP has been replaced with a new tool called RePORTER that searches the NIH database of biomedical research projects. The RePORTER tool provides all the features of CRISP and more.

This year several NIH-funded scientists won prestigious awards for their contributions to the treatment of disease and the understanding of cellular mechanisms. Drs. Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Drs. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas Steitz and Ada Yonath won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Drs. Brian Druker, Charles Sawyers and Shinya Yamanaka won Lasker Awards.

The Electronic Streamlined Non-competing Award Process (eSNAP) allows institutions to submit electronically their annual progress reports for non-competing applications in the eRA Commons. The PHS 2590 progress report form has been revised, and changes to the eRA system will occur October 9, 2009 to accommodate the form changes. NIH encourages grantees with eSNAP reports due October 15, 2009 to delay submitting the reports until after October 9 and has provided a grace period to November 1, 2009.

NIH is entering into the final phase of the Enhancing Peer Review initiative, implementing two major changes: restructured/shortened applications and new forms and instructions. Use of new forms is required for competing applications due January 25, 2010 and beyond.

Most of the NIH research training opportunities available for graduate and postdoctoral researchers are provided through institutional training grants (T awards), or individual fellowships (F awards). In addition to this support, NIH supports many graduate and postdoctoral research experiences through research grant funding. Effective October 1, 2009, NIH is implementing new data reporting requirements on training and research awards to fulfill the NIH Reform Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-482).