Overview of NIH Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025

Published April 05, 2024
Notice Number:
NOT-OD-24-084

Key Dates

Release Date:

April 4, 2024

Related Announcements

  • April 4, 2024 - New NIH "FORMS-I" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See NOT-OD-24-086.
  • April 4, 2024 - Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications - Update and Implementation Plans. See Notice NOT-OD-24-085. 
  • October 19, 2023 - Online Briefing on NIH’s Simplified Peer Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) Applications: for Applicants and Reviewers. See Notice NOT-OD-24-012 
  • October 19, 2023 - Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications. See Notice NOT-OD-24-010.  
  • April 24, 2023 - Request for Information (RFI) on Recommendations for Improving NRSA Fellowship Review. See Notice NOT-OD-23-110
  • December 8, 2022 - Request for Information (RFI) on Proposed Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications. See Notice NOT-OD-23-034 

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

This notice provides the research and research training community an overview of application and peer review changes impacting grant applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025, including:

  • 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

Although each of these initiatives has specific goals, they are all meant to simplify, clarify, and/or promote greater fairness towards a level playing field for applicants throughout the application and review processes.

NIH will release additional details and guidance on these initiatives throughout 2024 which will be cross-referenced in this notice as well. 
 

Overview of Changes

Simplified Review Framework for Most Research Project Grant Applications

What’s Changing

The Simplified Framework for NIH Peer Review Criteria retains the five regulatory criteria (Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, Environment) but reorganizes them into three factors — two will receive numerical scores and one will be evaluated for sufficiency. All three factors will be considered in arriving at the Overall Impact score.

Goals

  1. Enable peer reviewers to better focus on answering the key questions necessary to assess the scientific and technical merit of proposed research projects:
    • Should the proposed research project be conducted?
    • Can the proposed research project be conducted?
  2. Mitigate the effect of reputational bias, refocusing the evaluation of investigator/environment to within the context of the proposed research.
  3. Reduce reviewer burden, shifting policy compliance activities to NIH staff. 

Scope

Peer review of most research project applications (see affected activity codes) submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

Learn More 

Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process

What’s Changing

NIH is revising the fellowship review criteria used to evaluate fellowship applications and modifying the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form to align with the restructured review criteria.

Goals

  • Better focus reviewer attention on three key assessments: the fellowship candidate’s preparedness and potential, research training plan, and commitment to the candidate.  
  • 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.
  • Reduce bias in review by emphasizing the commitment to the candidate without undue consideration of sponsor and institutional reputation.

Scope

All fellowship applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

Learn More

Updates to Reference Letter Instructions for Referees

What’s Changing

Instruction changes only. Reference letter submission process will remain the same.  

Goal

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.

Scope

  • All reference letters associated with applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2025 
  • Activity codes requiring reference letters: Fellowships (Fs), mentored Career Development (K01, K08, K18, K22, K23, K25, K43, K76, K99/R00), DP5

Learn More 

  • Reference Letters web page (new instructions will be posted by fall 2024 for use for due dates on and after January 25, 2025)

Updates to NRSA Training Grant Applications  

What’s Changing

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.  

Goals

  • 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.

Scope

NRSA training grant applications and other applications that use the T forms (such as K12s) submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2025.

Learn More

Updated Application Forms (FORMS-I)

What’s Changing

Updated application forms are needed to support many of the changes identified in this notice.  

Goals

  • Provide the needed form fields to efficiently implement policy updates.
  • Align form instructions and field labels with current terminology (e.g., grantee to recipient).

Scope

All applications submitted to NIH for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. Related changes impacting Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) will be communicated separately based on effective dates of change(s).  

Learn More

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

What’s Changing

NIH is adopting the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form in 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.

Goals

  • 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 (excerpt from Guidance for Implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 33).

Scope

All applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) submitted to NIH. Additional details forthcoming.  

Learn More

Resources

Webinars

 NIH will host a series of webinars covering many of the changes. Details will be announced through the NIH Guide. Each webinar will be recorded for later viewing. 

Webinar Topic Date/Time frame
NIH Simplified Review Framework for Research Project Grants (RPGs): Implementation and Impact on Funding Opportunities  April 17, 2024
Updates to NIH Training Grant Applications June 5, 2024
Revisions to the Fellowship Application and Review Process September 19, 2024
Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support  Planned, but not yet scheduled

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

NIH Office of Extramural Research

OER@od.nih.gov