Volume 11, number 8: February 2, 2005
FEDERAL NEWS
Improved National Institutes of Health Guide for Grants and Contracts Listings
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has changed the way it posts grants and contracts in the NIH Guide. The previous static listings have been replaced with real-time database query listings that retrieve only active Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements (PAs), based on the expiration dates stated in these announcements. The new listing displays notices published over the last two years since expiration dates are not currently assigned to these announcements. Links to these new resources are available from the main NIH Guide Funding Opportunities and Notices page.
All announcements may also be viewed by using selections in the drop-down box at the top of each listing page. Clicking on header links allows resorting of lists. In addition, a new Ad Hoc NIH Guide Database Search page is available, which allows for individualized queries with various selection criteria. The new NIH Guide Search Help Page provides additional information regarding new NIH Guide listings. READ MORE.
New Federal Policy to Acknowledge Multiple PIs
The Executive Office of the President, acting through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), has taken steps to promote multidisciplinary and collaborative research. NSTC has issued a memorandum to federal departments and agencies establishing appropriate policies to acknowledge more than one principal investigator (PI) when there is more than one collaborating investigator working on a federally-funded research project. This policy will provide recognition for scientists who are working on multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary projects within their institutions, or with collaborators at other institutions. The policy will help provide more uniform recognition to collaborating PIs across agencies as multidisciplinary science continues to increase over the next decade. READ MORE.
Legislative Mandates for National Institutes of Health Funding
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides information detailing the new statutory provisions that limit the use of funds on NIH grants, cooperative agreements, and contract awards for FY 2005. The Notice of Legislative Mandates for FY04 was signed on January 23, 2004. The mandates define the areas of
Updated Contact Information for AHRQ
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has updated its program contact list. If you are considering applying for a grant from AHRQ and have questions regarding program matters, please see the AHRQ contact notice for the correct person and contact information.
NASA Announces New Research Proposal Submission System
Research proposals for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) solicited after January 2005 will no longer use the management system SYS-EYFUS. The new web-based system, NSPIRES (or the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System), electronically follows the proposal from initial solicitation through the final publication of results. NSPIRES aims to facilitate grant management for researchers and adhere to Grants.gov operations.
The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) at UNC-Chapel Hill is responsible for submitting online proposal data to NSPIRES. New individual principal investigators can now register to use NSPIRES to submit their proposals
Click here for registration information.
Input Requested for Revisions to National Research Service Awards
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) is revising the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Application (PHS 416-1) and Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Fellowship Progress Report for Continuation Support (PHS 416-9). These forms are used to request all individual fellowship support under the auspices of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award authority. The forms and instructions are used by the NIH and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The NIH is soliciting suggestions to improve these instructions and form pages. Any suggestions must be submitted by February 18, 2005. READ MORE.
National Institutes of Health Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that it expects grant applications to be submitted on time. The standing dates are listed in the application kits and on their website. Listed dates are submission or postmark dates; applications are on time if they are sent on these dates. When these deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday, they are extended to the next business day. However, applications for Requests for Applications (RFAs) and Program Announcements with Special Referral Considerations (PARs) with special receipt dates must be received on the dates designated in the announcement to be on time.
Late applications are generally not accepted. In rare cases, a late application will be accepted, but only when accompanied by a cover letter that details compelling reasons for the delay. While the reasons are sometimes personal in nature, an objective evaluation of their merit requires that some details be provided. Permission for a late submission is never granted in advance. READ MORE.