NIH has released NOT-OD-24-084 to provide the research community an overview of application and peer review changes impacting grant applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

These changes include:

• Simplified Review Framework for Most Research Project Grant Applications
• Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process
• Updates to Reference Letter Guidance
• Updates to NRSA Training Grant Applications
• Updated Application Forms (FORMS-I)
• Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support

NIH will be releasing additional details and guidance on these initiatives over the coming months. As more information is released OSRA will prepare detailed guidance and will host a Town Hall for faculty and administrative research professional support staff.

Below is an overview of the forthcoming changes:

Simplified Review Framework for Most Research Project Grant Applications (RPGs):

The Simplified Framework retains the 5 regulatory criteria (Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, Environment) but reorganizes them into three factors – two will receive numerical criterion scores and one will be evaluated for sufficiency. All three factors will be considered in arriving at the overall impact score.

The reframing of the criteria serves to focus reviewers on three central questions reviewers should be evaluating: How important is the proposed research, how rigorous and feasible are the methods, and whether the investigators and institution have the expertise/resources necessary to carry out the project.

• Factor 1: Importance of the Research (Significance, Innovation), scored 1-9
• Factor 2: Rigor and Feasibility (Approach), scored 1-9
• Factor 3: Expertise and Resources (Investigator, Environment), to be evaluated as either sufficient for the proposed research or not (in which case reviewers must provide an explanation)

Additional information is available on NIH’s Simplified Review Framework Resource Page and under NOT-OD-24-085.

Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process:

NIH is revising the application and review criteria for fellowship applications. The goal of the changes is to improve the chances that the most promising fellowship candidates will be consistently identified by scientific review panels. The changes will:

1. Better focus reviewer attention on three key assessments: the fellowship candidate’s preparedness and potential, research training plan, and commitment to the candidate
2. Ensure a broad range of candidates and research training contexts can be recognized as meritorious by clarifying and simplifying the language in the application and review criteria
3. Reduce bias in review by emphasizing the commitment to the candidate without undue consideration of sponsor and institutional reputation

To better align the fellowship application with the revised review criteria, the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form will be updated. These changes will affect the previously labeled Fellowship Applicant, Research Training Plan, and Sponsor(s), Collaborator(s), and Consultant(s) sections.

Additional information is available on the Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process Resource Page and under NOT-OD-24-107.

Updates to Reference Letter Instructions for Referees:

NIH is updating the instructions for reference letters to provide more structure so letters will better assist reviewers in understanding the candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential to pursue a productive career in biomedical science. The reference letter submission process will remain the same.

This change applies to all activity codes that require reference letters: Fellowships (Fs), mentored Career Development (K01, K08, K18, K22, K23, K25, K43, K76, K99/R00), DP5

Updated instructions will be posted on NIH’s Grants page for Reference Letters as soon as they are available (~Fall 2024).

Updates to NRSA Training Grant Applications:

The NIH National Research Service Award (NRSA) Training Program applications are undergoing changes that take effect for submissions due on or after January 25, 2025. These modifications impact the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form (the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will become its own attachment instead of part of the 25-page program plan) and the NRSA Training Tables.

The goal of the changes are to:

• Update the NRSA Data Tables to reduce applicant and reviewer burden.
• Include training in the Responsible Conduct of Research and Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity as items that contribute to the overall impact score.
• Enhance research training programs by further defining expectations for mentor training and clarifying positive outcomes related to preparing trainees for the breadth of research and related careers relevant to the NIH mission.

NIH is hosting a webinar on these changes on June 5, 2024. Registration is open to the community. Sign up here.

NIH will be releasing a detailed guide notice on the changes in the coming months.

Updated Application Forms (FORMS-I):

NIH is updating application forms to support many of the changes coming in 2025. These new forms will provide the needed form fields to efficiently implement policy updates and align form instructions and field labels with current terminology.

The following application forms include substantive form changes (i.e., new/deleted/modified fields). All other forms include only an OMB expiration date change.

• PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan
• PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form
• PHS Assignment Request Form
• PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement Form

Updated application forms will be posted with active funding opportunities in the Fall of 2024, and updated instructions will be available on the How to Apply - Application Guide at that time. Form packages will be updated within the Weill Research Gateway prior to the implementation date.

Additional information is available under NOT-OD-24-086.

Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support:

NIH is adopting the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form in 2025 as per the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) memorandum on Policy Regarding Use of Common Disclosure Forms for applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) submitted on or after May 2025.

The Common Forms represent a collaborative effort between Federal research agencies to ensure standard disclosure requirements as outlined in the National Security Presidential Memorandum - 33.

The goal of the Common Form is:

• Greater standardization across federal agencies.
• Provide clarity regarding disclosure requirements (e.g., who discloses what, relevant limitations and exclusions), disclosure process (e.g., updates, corrections, certification, and provision of supporting documentation), and expected degree of cross-agency uniformity

Additional Information:

Be on the lookout for future OSRA News & Announcements on these changes and a future Town Hall session.

For questions contact your assigned OSRA Grants Specialist or email grantsandcontracts@med.cornell.edu.