Recommendations for Proactively Addressing Authorship Disputes

February 23, 2023

Sometimes disagreements about authorship cannot be avoided, and many have likely seen it up close. They can be handled thoughtfully and appropriately. But when they are not, they may lead to serious consequences for the people and research involved. Here, we will look at this issue more closely and reflect on how to proactively address them.

Behavioral Codes of Conduct for NIH Award Recipients

December 29, 2022

We are pleased to announce that the NIH Grants Policy Statement was recently updated, replacing the December 2021 version as standard terms and conditions of award. Consistent with longstanding federal regulations, institutions receiving NIH support will now be required to have internal controls to assure compliance with terms and conditions of award. These internal controls include behavioral codes of conduct to assure safe and healthful working conditions for their employees and foster work environments conducive to high-quality research.

Congress Strengthens NIH’s Ability To Address Harassment in NIH-funded Activities

May 10, 2022

The recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2022 includes “Section 239,” which is a milestone in our efforts to ensure safe working conditions for people engaged in NIH-supported research. The law requires NIH grant recipients to notify us when their senior key personnel are removed from their position or are otherwise disciplined due to concerns about harassment, bullying, retaliation, or hostile working conditions. This is a major step in our continued effort to change the culture of harassment in biomedical science.

Expanded Website Outlines How to Support Safe and Respectful Workplaces at Institutions that Receive NIH Funding

October 29, 2021

We have updated our anti-sexual harassment website to encompass the range of threats to safe and respectful workplaces at institutions receiving NIH funding. The updated site outlines actions NIH can take to address different forms of harassment, how to notify us (which can be anonymous), resources to evaluate workplace climate, and frequently asked questions.

Enhancing Diversity at NIH-Funded Conferences

January 22, 2021

At NIH, we have and continue to focus not just on gender equity but on ensuring greater diversity in all aspects of the biomedical workforce. This means, that along with women, members of racial and/or ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are also included. To help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation, NIH needs the richness and breadth of varied perspectives that comes from having a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds.

In that spirit, today we released a guide notice (NOT-OD-21-053) that updates guidance for NIH R13/U13 Conference Grant applicants and recipients.