NIH is quickly addressing how it will most effectively spend the $10.4 billion designated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to promote science, bolster the economy, and create or retain jobs in as transparent a manner as possible. Within the parameters of the legislation, NIH expects to allocate resources across several major activities, including the awarding of recently peer-reviewed, highly meritorious R01 applications, new R01 and other activity codes that have a reasonable expectation of making progress within two years, competitive supplements to expand the scope of current research or support additional infrastructure, non-competitve supplements to accelerate the tempo of on-going science, the new NIH Challenge Grant program, and other funding mechanisms as appropriate.

The biennial report of the director makes it easier for Congress, advocates and patient groups, and the general public to understand the many programs within the agency.

For the first time, the public can use the information provided to view the total funds spent in 215 categories for the current fiscal year and previous fiscal years based on grants, contracts, and intramural research (research conducted in the NIH’s own laboratories and clinics).

Awardees now able to reduce appointment to less than full time; “K” Awards to transition to Adobe Forms early next month.

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) has added regulations requiring Institutional Review Boards to register with HHS.

A recent notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts describes procedures for granting an extension of the 10 year limit for ESI eligibility.

Over 4,400 of the best and brightest scientists, clinicians, policy, and advocacy leaders in the field of health disparities attended the 4-day NIH Summit entitled “The Science of Eliminating Health Disparities.”

NIH has extended the electronic application error correction window to 5 days for all opportunities with receipt dates in February 2009 to alleviate stress caused by Grants.gov performance issues.

Transition to Adobe officially began on December 5, 2008, when NIH updated more than 500 active Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) with Adobe-based application packages and closed their PureEdge predecessors. The new Adobe forms are required for submission for most receipt dates in January and beyond.

The NIH will begin implementing changes in the Fiscal Year 2010 funding cycle.  Investigators submitting applications in January 2009 and later should be aware of these new policies.