Important NIH Updates

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the following recent updates:

  • Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025
  • New NIH “FORMS-I” Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025
  • Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact your Sponsored Programs Pre-Award Officer.

Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

NIH Notice NOT-OD-24-084 provides the research and research training community an overview of application and peer review changes impacting grant applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025, including:

  • Simplified Review Framework for Most Research Project Grant Applications
  • Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process
  • Updates to Reference Letter Guidance
  • Updates to NRSA Training Grant Applications
  • Updated Application Forms (FORMS-I)
  • Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support

Although each of these initiatives has specific goals, they are all meant to simplify, clarify, and/or promote greater fairness towards a level playing field for applicants throughout the application and review processes. NIH will release additional details and guidance on these initiatives throughout 2024.

Please view the complete NIH notice for detailed information and planned Webinars to be hosted by NIH covering many of the changes.

New NIH “FORMS-I” Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

NIH Notice NOT-OD-24-086 informs the applicant and recipient communities of changes to grant application forms and application guide instructions for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. Applicants must use FORMS-I application packages for due dates on or after January 25, 2025, and must use FORMS-H application packages for due dates on or before January 24, 2025. Applications submitted using an incorrect forms package for their intended due date will be withdrawn and removed from funding consideration.

The following application forms include substantive form changes (i.e. new/deleted/modified fields). All other forms include only an OMB expiration date change.

  • PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan
  • PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form
  • PHS Assignment Request Form
  • PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement Form

Availability of FORMS-I Application Guides

Application guides for FORMS-I application packages will be posted to the How to Apply – Application Guide page no later than October 25, 2024.

Availability of FORMS-I Application Packages

FORMS-I application packages will be posted as follows:

  • New Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) will be posted with FORMS-H and/or FORMS-I application packages, as appropriate, beginning October 25, 2024.
  • New NOFOs posted before October 25, 2024, with initial due dates on or after January 25, 2025, will be posted without application forms until updated forms are available. Application packages will be added to these NOFOs between October 25, 2024, and November 25, 2024, with all application forms packages posted 30 calendar days or more prior to receipt dates.
  • All active Parent and IC-issued NOFOs with due dates on or after January 25, 2025, will be reissued or updated to add FORMS-I application packages between October 25, 2024, and November 25, 2024, with all application forms packages posted 30 calendar days or more prior to receipt dates.

Please view the complete NIH notice for detailed information including key changes and the High-level Summary of Form Changes in FORMS-I Application Packages.

Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

NIH Notice NOT-OD-24-129 announces updates to the NIH Institutional Training Program applications and required training data tables effective with submissions for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. The overall goal of these changes is to:

  • Reduce applicant and reviewer burden.
  • Further support the development of a biomedical research workforce that will benefit from the full range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds needed to advance discovery.
  • Align SF424 with updates with relevant NIH training grant NOFOs and requirements.

The following activity codes are affected:

  • Institutional Training – T series, e.g., T15, T32, T34, T35, T37,T90/R90, TL1, TL4.
  • International Institutional Training – D43, D71, U2R.
  • Institutional Career Development – K12, KL2.

Summary of Updates

  • Key application changes:
    • PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form – Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will be its own attachment.
    • Parent T32 NOFO – Define mentor training expectations
    • Update NRSA Data Tables to reduce burden and promote consistent information collection across training programs.
  • Key changes to peer review:
    • Move “Responsible Conduct of Research” and “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” to Additional Review Considerations so they contribute to the overall impact score.

Please view the complete NIH notice for additional information and a Detailed Explanation of Updates.

Information For...