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2025
Apply Responsibly: Policy on AI Use in NIH Research Applications and Limiting Submissions per PI
NIH has recently announced a new policy that will continue to support originality, creativity, and fairness in the research application process.
Flexibilities for Registration and Results Reporting of Prospective Basic Experimental Studies with Human Participants
NIH is indefinitely extending the period of delayed enforcement for registration and results reporting for basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH) responsive to designated BESH NOFOs, including those with application due dates on or after September 25, 2025.
Short-Term Supplement Model for Human Subjects Research Supported by Foreign Subawards
To address concerns for participant safety risks for ongoing projects, NIH has established a short-term supplement model to support clinical research and clinical trials conducted under an active foreign subaward.
NIH Fellowship Funding Opportunities Are Here
Updated funding opportunities for NIH fellowships are below and also available on the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and Grants.gov. NIH fellowships are open to early career scientists, including at the predoctoral and postdoctoral level, and are designed to provide mentored research training to enable skills’ development and experiences needed to transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.
NIH Funding Announcements to Align with NIH Initiative to Prioritize Human-based Research
On April 29, NIH announced it is prioritizing human-focused research and reducing animal use in research. To further this initiative, all new Notices of Funding Opportunity that relate to animal model systems (NOFOs) must now also support human-focused approaches such as clinical trials, real world data, or new approach methods (NAMs).
Upcoming Changes to Extramural Nexus Email Delivery
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Progress on Implementation of the Simplified Review Framework
NIH has simplified peer review for most research project grants for application due dates of January 25, 2025 or later to address the complexity of the peer review process and the potential for reputational bias to affect peer review outcomes. The initial applications are under review during summer study section meetings within the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR).
New FY 2024 NIH Categorical Spending Data Available, Including an Updated Women’s Health Research Category to Improve Accuracy and Consistency
NIH recently updated its annual categorical information with actual spending data for fiscal year (FY) 2024. NIH has also moved from manual coding to automated coding for the Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization (RCDC) Women’s Health Research category, which further improves its accuracy and consistency in reporting and better distinguishes research focused on improving the health of women across the lifespan.
NIH is Temporarily Extending Eligibility for Some Mentored Career Development Awards
NIH has issued a temporary policy exception to NIH GPS Section 12.3.7 to allow individuals whose mentored career development awards prematurely ended on or after January 1, 2025 to reapply for future awards. This exception is effective immediately and will remain in effect until July 31, 2026.
Announcing the NIH Autism Data Science Initiative Research Opportunity
Today, NIH released a Research Opportunity Announcement for the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI). We are spotlighting this other transaction here as it is a high priority for leadership within NIH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It also encompasses several efforts of general interest for NIH supported research including supporting data resources, participant privacy, and research replicability/validation.