Phases of Process

Peer Review Enhancements that began in January of 2009 will culminate with a restructuring and shortening of applications submitted for Fiscal Year 2011 funding (due dates on or after January 25, 2010).  All competing applications, including resubmissions, must use the new forms and adhere to new page limits and instructions – more details can be found in:

• NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-09-149
• NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-10-002
• Table of Page Limits
• Details of Application Changes (PDF - 98 KB)
• New Application Packages – Sign up on our LISTSERV to be notified when they become available
• Training & Communications Resources

The changes described in the above links apply to competing applications. For noncompeting progress reports, the PHS 2590 now includes the instruction to address any changes to the innovative potential of the project. (NOT-OD-09-139). Through these changes, NIH continues in its goal to fund the best science, by the best scientists, with the least amount of administrative burden.

Application Structure

NIH is restructuring the applications by aligning the structure and content with review criteria. This alignment will help ensure that both reviewer and applicant expectations coincide for a more efficient and transparent application process.  Note that the new application forms incorporate the enhanced peer review criteria for research grants and cooperative agreements that was announced in NOT-OD-09-025.

Application Length

NIH is shortening page limits for competing applications to help reduce the administrative burden placed upon applicants, reviewers, and staff. This change seeks to focus applicants and reviewers on the essentials of the science that are needed for a fair and comprehensive review of the application. Shorter applications may have additional benefits for reviewers such as mitigating information overload, and/or enabling a larger number of reviewers to read each application and participate in review in a more informed manner.

How did NIH make the decision to shorten applications?

Timeline

All applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2010 require use of new forms and new instructions. Initial due dates for specific activity codes may be found in the Policy Announcement.

It is crucial that applicants return to the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), or reissued Parent Announcement, to which they are applying to download the new application packages. Restructured application forms and instructions will be posted by December 2009 according to this timeline (PDF - 373 KB).  The new application forms will be identified either as “ADOBE_FORMS_B” (for the SF 424 (R&R) application) or with a date of June 2009 (for the PHS 398 application).  Applications submitted using incorrect forms will be delayed and may not be reviewed.

A detailed guide to the revised application forms and instructions (PDF - 198 KB) can assist applicants who are preparing applications before the new applications and forms are available (in December 2009).