Back to Home

IMPORTANT NOTICES FROM NIH AND NSF

From National Institutes of Health:

• NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications (effective beginning in January, 2009): NIH announced a change in the existing policy on resubmission (previously referred to as revised) applications. NIH will now accept only one (1) resubmission of the original application. There is no time limit for the submission of the original and subsequent (resubmission) application.

• Policy on Resubmission of Applications - This policy allows grantees to resubmit unfunded applications as new applications in the following instances: 1) unsuccessful applications for an RFA can be resubmitted as a new investigator-initiated application 2) previously unsuccessful investigator-initiated applications can be resubmitted in response to an RFA as a new application, and 3) unfunded applications that are reviewed for one research grant mechanism may be resubmitted for a different grant mechanism and should be prepared as a new application.

• A change to NIH standard receipt dates has been announced. The new receipt dates apply to both paper and electronic applications. Click here for the chart of dates. Applications for RFAs and ongoing PAs, PARs, and PASs with special receipt dates continue to be due on the specified dates lised in the announcement.

• NIH has transitioned to electronic application submission via Grants.gov. Click here for instructions.

• To access the latest version of the PHS 398 and 2590 forms (dated rev. 11/07) and the SF424 R&R for use in electronic submissions via Grants.gov, click here.

• The University of Memphis is no longer eligible for the NIH AREA (R15) grant program. For further information, please call 2836.

• A special page at the NIH website for new investigators - Resources for New Investigators

• NIH has published updated criteria for evaluating research grant applications. To review the criteria, go to NOT-OD-05-002.

• NIH Notices of Interest to Researchers (published weekly in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts)

• To receive a weekly newsletter of NIH funding opportunities, subscribe to NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

• The Center for Scientific Review has produced a VIDEO OF A MOCK STUDY SECTION MEETING to provide an inside look at how NIH grant applications are reviewed for scientific and technical merit. To access and download the video, click here. For Study Section Rosters, click here.

• The revised NIH Grants Policy Statement-12/03 (NIHGPS) is applicable to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements with budget periods beginning on or after December 1, 2003. The NIHGPS provides both up-to-date policy guidance that serve as NIH standard terms and conditions of awards for grants and cooperative agreements, and extensive guidance to individuals that are interested in NIH grants.

• PHS (Public Health Service) Grant Policy Manual

• NIH requires EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS for all investigators and senior personnel on NIH new or continuing grants or contracts involving research on human subjects. To meet this requirement, access and complete the University of Memphis Education in the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training modules. Instructions for the use of the modules and a link to the training may be found on the University of Memphis Human Subjects Research website

• CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects) is a searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. CRISP may be used to search for scientific concepts, emerging trends and techniques, or identify specific projects and/or investigators.

• For information on NIH Modular Grants, go to the Modular Grant website.

• Peer Review Policy and Issues - This website describes the NIH review process; provides links to Peer Review Policy Documents, such as Rating of Grant Applications and Review Criteria; and discusses the Peer Review Oversight Group, an advisory group to the review process.

• FIRST (First Independent Research and Transition) Awards (R29) are no longer accepted. New investigators are encouraged to submit traditional research project grant applications (R01) which may be clearly identified on the cover sheet as being from new investigators. By instituting this new policy, NIH feels that they are allowing new investigators maximum freedom in identifying the level and period of support needed for the work.

From National Science Foundation:

• NSF has clarified the definition of principal investigator to state that regardless of what an investigator is called, there will be no distincition between the "scientific stature of PIs". All will be equally responsible for the project, but the first name listed will be the contact PI for NSF.

• NSF proposals seeking funding for postdoctoral research are now required to include a description of mentoring activities as a separate section of the 15 page project description.

• NSF accepts solicited proposals via Fastlane or Grants.gov, depending on solicitation instructions. All collaborative proposals and proposals with subcontracts must be submitted via Fastlane. Click here for detailed instructions.

• NSF has published its newest Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) NSF 09-1.

• NSF Award and Administration Guide is a publication outlining basic NSF policies and procedures covering the NSF award process, from issuance and administration of an award through closeout.

• To subscribe to a weekly newsletter of NSF funding opportunities and policy information, subscribe to NSF Update.

• NSF has developed a reference guide for preparing and submitting proposals through Fastlane - Electronic Proposal Submission Guide.

• NSF describes the Merit Review Criteria used in the decision-making process for funding research and education projects in the National Science Foundation Merit Review.

• No-cost Extensions via Fastlane - NSF grant recipients are required to submit no-cost extension requests via Fastlane. The first no-cost extension is a grantee approved notification to NSF and must be submitted at least 10 days before the grant end date. All future no cost extensions are submitted as requests for NSF approval and must be done no later than 45 days before end date. Go to the Fastlane website to login (contact 2836 if you've forgotten your password); select Award and Reporting Functions; Notifications and Requests. Call 2836 for further assistance.

• NSF Guide to Programs/Browse Funding Opportunities

• A Guide for Proposal Writing is available from the National Science Foundation. This publication incorporates suggestions for improving proposals collected from a variety of sources, including NSF Program Directors, panel reviewers, and successful grantees. The guide is organized in the following sections: Program Information; Review Process; Criteria for Evaluation; Before You Write; Writing the Proposal; Before Sending Your Proposal; and Awards and Declinations