NIH Extramural Nexus (News)

NIH plans to review all applications submitted for the January 2026 Councils (e.g., applications that were submitted to due dates in summer 2025) and maintain the quality of review.

Today, NIH has implemented steps towards a unified strategy that will help guide clearer and consistent funding decisions across all Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs). Building on the August NIH Director’s statement, this framework (effective January 2026 Council round) will help ensure we continue to support the most scientifically meritorious research ideas possible, address health priorities, and support a robust biomedical workforce.

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).

The simplified review framework went into effect earlier in 2025, and NIH has been busy preparing staff, peer reviewers, and study section chairs for its arrival at summer 2025 review meetings. To avoid confusion and reduce reviewer burden at review meetings, NIH has expired identified NOFOs that were not expired or reissued as indicated in the implementation plan shared in early 2024.

The framework is a new way of reviewing the same research strategies you’ve always developed, which means neither the components nor the structure of your application are expected to change. 

Do you want to learn more about how applications will be reviewed under the simplified review framework for most research project grants? Learn more whether you’re a peer reviewer awaiting training or a researcher preparing an application.