Grants links
Grants Bulletin
To subscribe to e-mail notification of Grants Bulletin updates with a link to this page, fill out the Subscription Form.
October 10, 2008
New NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications
Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-003
NIH announces a change in the existing policy on resubmission (amended) applications (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/amendedapps.htm). Beginning with original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal applications submitted for the January 25, 2009 due dates and beyond, the NIH will accept only a single amendment to the original application. Failure to receive funding after two submissions (i.e., the original and the single amendment) will mean that the applicant should substantially re-design the project rather than simply change the application in response to previous reviews. It is expected that this policy will lead to funding high quality applications earlier, with fewer resubmissions.
Background:
Following the release of the Peer Review Report that was drafted with extensive consultation with the external community, Dr. Zerhouni, NIH Director, established a Peer Review Oversight Committee (PROC) to finalize the recommendations and begin immediate implementation of those recommendations. Of particular concern was the marked reduction in the number of awards made in response to original applications. An increasing number of projects were funded only after one or more resubmissions. In periods of constricted funding, a greater number of projects require resubmission, and review committees are more likely to show greater preference for amended applications. These trends have increased the time from original submission to award and the number of submissions per investigator. As a result, there has been greater burden placed on applicants and reviewers as well as a delay in funding for meritorious science.
To change this trend and increase the likelihood that meritorious original applications will be funded, the NIH will decrease the number of amendments allowed. Accordingly, the NIH will begin to phase out second amendment applications starting with the January 25, 2009 due date. This policy will increase the numbers of high quality original and first amendments that can be funded earlier.
NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications:
Beginning with applications intended for the January 25, 2009, due date, all original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal applications will be permitted only a single amendment (A1). For this and subsequent cohorts of original new and competing renewal applications, any second amendment (A2) will be administratively withdrawn and not accepted for review. Applicants who fail to receive funding after two submissions may resubmit but only if the application is fundamentally revised to qualify as new. A new application is expected to be substantially different in content and scope with more significant differences than are normally encountered in an amended application. Note that there is no time limit for the submission of the original and subsequent A1.
Original new and competing renewal applications that were submitted prior to January 25, 2009 will be permitted two amendments (A1 and A2). For these "grandfathered" applications, NIH expects that any A2 will be submitted no later than January 7, 2011, and NIH will not accept A2 applications after that date.
This policy applies to all applications, including applications submitted under the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, Career Development Awards, Individual Fellowships, Institutional Training Grants, Resource Grants, Program Projects, and Centers. Currently no amendments are permitted for applications received in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) unless it is specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, in which case only one amendment will be permitted.
Inquiries:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their questions with their NIH IC contact. For additional information or questions, please contact:
Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD 20892-7720
Voice: (301) 435-0715
Fax: (301) 480-1987
Or send an email to EnhancingPeerReview@mail.nih.gov.
Federal Agencies Transitioning to Adobe-based Forms for Grants.gov Submission
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are transitioning from PureEdge to Adobe-based grant application forms for electronic submissions of SF424 Research and Related (R&R) applications. Although the new Adobe forms have a slightly different look and feel from the PureEdge forms, the changes are mainly cosmetic and the overall electronic submission process of finding opportunities, downloading application packages, preparing forms, preparing attachments, and submitting applications will remain the same. Please note the importance of this schedule, as Grants.gov will not accept PureEdge applications after the transition dates noted below.
Most electronic submissions to NIH on or after January 1, 2009, must use Adobe application forms, except:
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR [R41/ R44])/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR [R41/R42] and Conference (R13/U13) grant applications for the January 7, 2009, AIDS submission deadlines.
- Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) with non-standard submission dates expiring on or before January 31, 2009, can use PureEdge until the expiration date (except RFA-AI-08-053 and RFA-RM-08-029, which use Adobe).
The following table provides the final standard submission dates for PureEdge applications, along with the first Adobe submission dates.
| Grant Type | Final PureEdge Submission Date |
First Adobe Submission Date |
|---|---|---|
| C06/UC6, R18/U18, R25, Gs, S11, S21, S22, SC1, SC2, SC3 | 9/25/2008 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) |
| R15 | 10/25/2008 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) |
| R01 | 11/5/2008 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) |
| R03, R21, R33, R21/R33, R34, R36 | 11/16/2008 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) |
| R13/U13 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) | 4/12/2009 |
| R41, R42, R43, R44 | 1/7/2009 (AIDS) | 4/5/2009 |
IMPORTANT NOTES
It is crucial that applicants check the FOA in December to download the new Adobe application forms:
Between now and December, NIH will publish new FOAs without accompanying application forms. We expect to have the forms for posting from Grants.gov by early December 2008; NIH will issue a Guide Notice when the Adobe forms are available. Adobe forms for small business applications and conference applications will be posted in early February 2009.
NIH currently has FOAs that are active for three years; these are also transitioning to Adobe. Adobe forms will replace PureEdge forms in the December 2008 timeframe. PureEdge forms will not be accepted by the Grants.gov system after the transition to Adobe.
Grants.gov requires a specific version of Adobe Reader in order to open, download save and submit an Adobe application. The latest versions are listed on the Grants.gov site and are updated as new editions are produced (see the Download Software page).
CAUTION: Applicants should make sure they are using the recommended versions of Adobe Reader. Versions earlier than 8.1.2 should not be used and may permanently corrupt the proposal preventing it from being submitted and require a whole new proposal be downloaded and filled out.
Please contact your Research Administrator if you have any questions concerning this transition.
Non-Competing Grant Awards under the Current Continuing Resolution
Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-002
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues to operate on a continuing resolution (CR) [Public Law 110-329 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009] that extends through March 6, 2009. The CR applies the terms of the FY 2008 appropriations for the period covered by the CR. Until the final FY 2009 appropriation is enacted, NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level). This is consistent with our practice during the CRs of FY 2006 - 2008. NIH will consider upward adjustments to these levels after the final appropriation is enacted, but expects institutions to monitor their expenditures carefully during this period.
Additional details will appear at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/financial/index.htm.
Inquiries:
Questions regarding adjustments applied to individual grant awards may be directed to the Grants Management Specialist identified on the Notice of Award.
"Informed Consent in Vulnerable Populations: Fact or Fiction?" - Oct. 16
Hubert O. Ballard, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Kentucky Newborn Screen Taskforce, Co-Director of Neonatal/Pediatric ECMO
Thursday, October 16, 2008
HG611 (Hospital Auditorium)
Lunch 11:30 a.m., Presentation Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Please call or e-mail the UK CRO office by Monday, September 15 to reserve your place 323-8545 or ukcro@email.uky.edu.
Upon completion of the presentation attendees will be able to:
- Understand the criteria for valid informed consent
- Obtain valid informed consent in vulnerable patients
- Improve the informed consent process
Sponsored by the University of Kentucky Clinical Research Development and Operations Center (CR-DOC)
"Superoxide Dismutase VS p53: It's a Matter of Life and Death" - Nov. 6
Daret K. St. Clair, Ph.D., Professor, Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky
12 p.m.– 1 p.m.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Hospital Auditorium, HG611
If you require special physical arrangements to attend this meeting, please call 323-0598
Objectives:
- Review the impact of mitochondrial activities on the generation and removal of reactive oxygen species
- Discuss the relationship between antioxidant and pro-apoptotic proteins during the development of cancer
- Demonstrate the translational significance of a mechanistic-based intervention in the process of cancer development
Lunch available at 11:30 a.m. Presentation begins at Noon. Please RSVP By 11/3/08: gcrc@email.uky.edu
Sponsored by C. William Balke, M.D., Associate Provost for Clinical and Translational Science, and Jay A. Perman, M.D., Dean, College of Medicine