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2026
Check Out the Latest How to Apply – Application Guide
NIH updated the How to Apply – Application Guide in December 2025 to reflect recent policy and procedure updates. Find details on all of the major changes and revisions since the last major release at Significant Changes.
February 16 (Monday), 2026: NIH Closed for the Federal Holiday
NIH (including help desks) will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026 for the federal holiday (Washington's Birthday). If a grant application due date falls on a federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Learn What Reviewers Say About Implementing the Simplified Review Framework
NIH implemented its Simplified Review Framework (SRF) for the peer review of the majority of competing research project grant (RPG) applications in summer 2025. How is it going?
How Can I Find Funding Opportunities Now That They Are Not in the NIH Guide?
You have two options to find Notices of Funding Opportunities: search on Grants.gov or use NIH’s new Explore NIH Opportunities tool. The NIH tool includes additional options for NIH-specific filters, sorting, and advanced search.
2025
December 24 through 26, 2025 and January 1, 2026: NIH Closed for the Federal Holidays
NIH, including help desks, will be closed for the federal holidays on December 24, 25, and 26, 2025 (Wednesday through Friday for Christmas) and January 1, 2026 (Thursday for New Year's Day). If a grant application due date falls on a federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.
Accelerating Research, Cutting Red Tape: 2025 at NIH
Blog co-authored by Dr. Lyric Jorgenson, Associate Director for Science Policy, and Dr. Jon Lorsch, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research.
Throughout the year we advanced a policy agenda that was based on two interlocking principles. The first principle involved pro-actively anticipating policy needs that would drive biomedical research. The second was to ensure that we cut unnecessary red tape to the maximum extent possible.
What if I Forgot to Include a Required Attachment of an Application?
NIH will contact the applicant in certain, limited situations if required attachments of an application were not submitted on time.
NIH Issues Request for Information on Draft Proposal Harmonizing Research Participant Data Policies
NIH is requesting public input on its proposal to establish harmonized and transparent policy requirements for protecting human participant research data.
Updated NIH Fellowship Resources Are Available
The complete Focus on Fellowships video series has been updated to include parts 3 and 4. As a reminder, NIH fellowships are open to early career scientists, including those at the predoctoral and postdoctoral level.
What Are the Differences Between Highlighted Topics and Funding Opportunities?
Applicants, take advantage of this overview to learn how NIH Highlighted Topics differ from Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). There are significant distinctions that you should understand when planning a project for your next application.