Encouraging Participation in Upcoming NIH Surveys to Identify Impacts of COVID-19 on Extramural Research

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Mike Lauer

NIH has been working diligently to support the extramural research community since the pandemic began in March. We are now preparing to reach out with surveys to gather data on how COVID-19 is impacting our extramural researchers and their institutions. If you receive such a survey, we hope that you will take the time to provide us with your perspective. The results of the surveys will be extremely valuable to inform policy and program decisions as NIH seeks to identify ways to continue to support the biomedical research enterprise as we move forward. Continue reading →

NIH Will Continue to Accept Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material Through May 2021 Council

Posted on August 14, 2020 by NIH Staff

The ability to submit preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted for the January 2021 council (NOT-OD-20-123) has been extended to apply to the May 2021 council (NOT-OD-20-163). This is a temporary flexibility due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading →

Temporary Extension of Eligibility for the NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award During COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on August 12, 2020 by NIH Staff

Due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, NIH will be providing up to a two-receipt cycle extension (roughly eight additional months) of eligibility for prospective applicants meeting the requirements for submission of a K99/R00 application from the June/July 2020 … Continue reading →

Roundup of New COVID-19 Resources for NIH Applicants and Recipients: Part 3

Posted on July 30, 2020 by NIH Staff

We continue to add new resources to our COVID-19: Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding webpage. We hope they are helpful in navigating this unprecedented situation. Here is a summary of what’s new since the last Nexus. Continue reading →

An Early Look at Applications Submitted During the Pandemic

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Mike Lauer

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. Continue reading →

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

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Mike Lauer

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. Continue reading →

Accepting Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material and Other COVID-19-Related Application Flexibilities

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Mike Lauer

As our nation looks to begin reopening, NIH continues to track how well our policies are meeting the evolving needs of the research community. In this post we would like to highlight allowance of preliminary data as a new special exception to our post submission materials policy and our guidance for reviewers. Continue reading →

Emerging Research Now Available Through New NIH Preprint Pilot

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Kathryn Funk

Preprints – complete, public drafts of scientific documents that are not yet certified by peer reviewed – are playing a key role in accelerating dissemination of research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19, highlighting a need for broader discovery and distribution of early research results in literature searches. Responding to this urgent need, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has launched the NIH Preprint Pilot, which will test the viability of making preprints searchable in PubMed Central (PMC) and, discoverable in PubMed, starting with preprints reporting NIH-supported COVID-19 research. Continue reading →

Temporary, Emergency Situations Due to COVID-19 and Application Scores Received During Peer Review

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Sally Amero

As we continue to address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency on NIH-supported research, we are aware of applicant concerns about the potential impact of this temporary emergency situation on the outcome of peer review. We want to reassure applicants that we released guidance for reviewers that makes it clear that, when reviewing applications during the coronavirus pandemic national emergency, reviewers should assume that issues resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, such as the following, should not affect scores. Continue reading →

Can recipients change the originally proposed format of a T35 program by devising an electronic curriculum rather than in-person experiences?

Posted on April 17, 2020 by NIH Staff

Yes, if the alternative methods would provide a meaningful experience related to the goals of the program. Continue reading →

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