Using eRA Commons to Improve Data on the Biomedical Research Workforce

August 2, 2013

In April I blogged about the various ways NIH is taking on the challenge of improving data on the biomedical research workforce, particularly those who receive training support from NIH. In 2009 we began requiring eRA Commons accounts for all postdocs listed in the grantees’ annual progress report and over the next year we’ll be extending this requirement to capture data on NIH-supported graduate students and undergraduate students as well.

Individual Development Plans for NIH-supported Trainees

July 23, 2013

We continue to make progress on implementing the recommendations proposed by the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) working group which studied the biomedical research workforce. We have just posted a Notice in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts announcing that NIH encourages grantees to develop an institutional policy requiring an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for every graduate student and postdoc supported by any NIH grant, regardless of the type of NIH grant that is used for support.

NIH Funds and Lobbying Activities

May 24, 2013

NIH-funded awards are subject to a prohibition on using federal funds for lobbying activities… While these prohibitions have been in place for a long time, we are taking this opportunity to raise the visibility of the topic particularly since we had some changes last year and are often asked about what is and isn’t allowed under the prohibition. ….

Update on NIH’s Public Access Policy

February 14, 2013

In November I blogged about NIH efforts to improve access to research results and updates related to the NIH public access policy. Today, NIH announced that the compliance measures outlined in the November guide notice will be implemented for all awards with anticipated start dates on or after July 1, 2013 (see NIH Guide Notice NOT-13-042). ….

Another Approach to Transparency

February 8, 2013

As you know, in August 2011 we issued a final rule in the Federal Register revising the regulations on financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) of extramural investigators, and these regulations were implemented in August 2012. One of the major changes in the new regulations was the requirement that institutions make publicly accessible certain information concerning identified financial conflicts of interest held by senior/key personnel.

One Step Closer: OMB Asks for Comments on Proposed Rule on Federal Grant Policy Reforms

February 6, 2013

You may recall that back in February 2012 I blogged about OMB’s request for comment on proposed reforms to federal grant policies contained in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars such as A-21, A-133, and A-122. OMB proposed these reforms to streamline Federal policies relating to grants. The essential idea behind this reform is to reduce the “red tape” and unnecessary or overly burdensome requirements so that grantees can better focus their efforts achieving their research objectives.

The A2 Resubmission Policy Continues: A Closer Look at Recent Data

November 28, 2012

We have heard from many of you about the policy to sunset A2 applications. As you may remember, this policy was developed as part of NIH efforts to enhance peer review. There were concerns that applications were piling up in a “queue” and subject to a holding pattern that delayed funding until the resubmission (A1 and A2) stages, and as a consequence highly meritorious science proposed in original (A0) applications was made to wait additional months for funding.

Improving Public Access to Research Results

November 16, 2012

Most researchers are familiar with our public access policy which is central to the NIH mission. It ensures NIH-funded research is accessible to everyone so that, collectively, we can advance science and improve human health. You’ve provided access at an impressive rate which has allowed many people to see the publications that result from NIH-funded research.