NIH Application Changes Q&A

Transcription

1 NIH Application Changes Q&A 1. Q: How and why are NIH applications being restructured? A: NIH is making a series of changes to proposals to enhance the peer review process. The goals of these enhancements are to: recognize changing nature of research; identify and encourage new and early stage investigators; ease the burden on the research enterprise; streamline the time to award; fund the best science, by the best scientists. shorten the page limits; and restructure the application format to align proposals with review criteria. These changes affect ALL applicants submitting applications (new, renewal, resubmission, and revision) for due dates on or after January 25, Q: What are the most significant changes to NIH applications? A: The most significant content changes include changes to the Research Plan, Facilities and Resources, and Biographical Sketch sections. The Research Plan has been renamed and reorganized as the Research Strategy. The Research Strategy includes 3 sections: Significance, Innovation, and Approach. The Approach segment of the Research Strategy incorporates the Preliminary Studies section for new applications and the Progress Report for renewal and revision applications. The Facilities and Resources section of the application now must contain more detail including a description of how the scientific environment in which the research will be done contributes to the probability of success of the project. The Biographical Sketch now must include a personal statement describing how one s experience and qualifications make one particularly well-suited for the role in the project. 3. Q: What are the new page limits? A: The most significant shortened page limits are: Section of the Application Activity Code Page Limit Introduction to Revision application All 1 page Specific Aims All 1 page Research Strategy [Significance, Innovation, & Approach] R03, R21, Fellowships (F) 6 pages Research Strategy [Significance, Innovation, & Approach] R01, U01, R21/R33 12 pages These are general guidelines, and specific instructions in the FOA supersede these instructions.

2 4. Q: What if I submit my application early? A: Applications submitted early must use the new forms and follow the new instructions, including shorter page limits. 5. Q: Do the changes apply to paper applications? A: Yes. Changes have been made to both electronic and paper application packages. Applicants must download the new forms and follow the new instructions. Read the new FOA and application instructions carefully. Page limits apply to multi-component applications. 6. Q: What are the implications for resubmissions? A: New page limits must be followed for resubmissions. Applicants need to download the new forms and follow the new instructions. An A2 application is allowed until January 7, 2011 if the A0 was submitted before January 25, Q: What are the changes for T, K, and F grant proposals? A: Training (T) applications (check table of page limits for exceptions) Page limit remains at 25 Transition to electronic applications at the same time Career Development (K) applications (check table of page limits for exceptions) Page limit decreases to 12 pages Research Strategy changes apply Fellowship (F) applications Page limit decreases to 6 pages Research Strategy changes apply 8. Q: Do you have any grant-writing advice? A: Yes! Read and follow all the application instructions. Read and address the review criteria. Pay attention to any special features of the FOA. More information can be found at the Enhancing Peer Review website: 9. Q: How do I know which application package to use? A: Until early February, applicants will have to choose between the old and new application packages.

3 Type of Form Until January 25, 2010 On and after January 25, 2010 Electronic SF 424 ADOBE-FORMS-A ADOBE-FORMS-B (R&R) Paper PHS 398 Revision date 11/2007 Revision date 06/2009 Note: Applications submitted with incorrect forms will be delayed and may not be reviewed. 10. Q: Are there changes to Research Plan attachments? A: Yes! There are 2 major changes: A single attachment for the Research Strategy increases applicant control by combining the previous 3 sections: o Background and Significance o Preliminary Studies/Progress Report o Research Designs and Methods The Research Strategy section will not have bookmarks. Applicants should use these headings: o Significance o Innovation o Approach Preliminary Studies for New Applications Progress Report for Renewal and Revision Applications 11. Q: How do these changes affect continuous submission applications? A: For Non-AIDS applications: Before January 25, applicants use ADOBE-FORMS-A On and after January 25, applicants use ADOBE-FORMS-B For R01, R21, and R34 AIDS applications: Until February 7, applicants should use ADOBE-FORMS-A for applications that would have been due on January 7 After February 7, applicants must use ADOBE-FORMS-B 12. Q: How will applications be scored? A: Reviewers will use a new scoring scale of 1 (exceptional) to 9 (poor) to list their impact/priority score. Only whole numbers will be used. Applications will be scored on five individual core criteria, using the same 9-point scale: Significance, Investigator(s), Innovation, Approach and Environment. These will differ for Career Development and Training grant applications.

4 Scoring Scale Comparison: Item Old Way New Way Criterion Scores 1 to 9 Preliminary Score 1.0 to to 9 Final Score 1.0 to to 9 Impact/Priority Score 100 to to 90 Percentiles 0.1 to to Q: What are the new scoring descriptions? A: This chart describes the new scoring descriptions: Score Descriptor Additional Guidance of Strengths/Weaknesses 1 Exceptional Exceptionally strong with essentially no weaknesses 2 Outstanding Extremely strong with negligible weaknesses 3 Excellent Very strong with only some minor weaknesses 4 Very Good Strong, but with numerous minor weaknesses 5 Good Strong but with at least one moderate weakness 6 Satisfactory Some strengths but also some moderate weakness 7 Fair Some strengths but with at least one major weakness 8 Marginal A few strengths and a few major weaknesses 9 Poor Very few strengths and numerous major weaknesses Minor Weakness: An easily addressable weakness that does not substantially lessen impact. Moderate Weakness: A weakness that lessens impact. Major Weakness: A weakness that severely limits impact. 14. Q: What other changes will be made to the review process? A: Reviewers will be given templates that will promote the listing of strengths and weaknesses: For each of the individual core criteria For the overall impact For any other relevant review consideration for any particular application, such as protection of human subjects or sharing of model organism.

5 15. Q: What are the dates for using new application forms? A: This table identifies the first due date for using the updated forms: First Due Date with Activity Code Updated Forms/Instructions P Program Project and Center 1/25/2010 T Training 1/25/2010 C06/UC6, R18/U18, R24/U24, R25, G07, G08, 1/25/2010 G11, G13, G20, D71/U2R, Mo1, S06, S11, 1/25/2010 S21, S22, SC1, SC2, SC3, U19, U45, U54, 1/25/2010 U56 1/25/2010 R15 2/25/2010 R01, U01 2/5/2010 K (Career Development) 2/12/2010 R03, R21, R33, R21/R33, R34, R36 2/16/2010 R41, R42, R43, R44 4/5/2010 F (Individual NRSA Fellowship) 4/8/2010 R13/U13 4/12/2010 F31 Diversity Fellowship 4/13/2020 AIDS and AIDS-Related Applications 5/17/2010 (supersedes ALL dates show above)