Research Resources

NIH News and Updates

Welcome to Manne Research Institute's online hub for National Institutes of Health (NIH) news and updates. This page will house essential resources for navigating policy and process changes to NIH grants and proposals. 

Getting Support for NIH-Related Questions

The Proposal Services (Research Support Office) and Submission Services (Office of Sponsored Programs) teams can assist with NIH-related questions. Look up the contact assigned to your division in the RBO Operations Assignments List.

Research Business Operations Office Hours

Research faculty and staff can connect with Research Business Operations teams during virtual drop-in sessions each Tuesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sessions will focus on general-use questions across the Research Support Office, Office of Sponsored Programs, and the Sponsored Research Finance Office. All Research Business Operations office hour sessions are posted on the Research Resource Hub calendar.

NIH Grants Policy Statement

The NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIH GPS) provides, in a single document, the policy requirements that serve as the terms and conditions of NIH grant awards. By accepting an award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Please connect with your Office of Sponsored Programs sponsored programs administrator (find your administrator on the RBO assignment list) if you have any questions about the NIH GPS and how we respond to their requirements.

NIH Notices of Policy Changes

NIH periodically implements new policies, which are posted on the NIH policy changes page. They are generally incorporated into the NIH GPS on an approximately annual basis. Consider subscribing to receive notifications when new NIH policy changes are posted.

2025 NIH Updates Summary

The 2025 NIH Updates Summary includes details on:

  • Transition from NIH Biosketch to SciENcv
  • Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications
  • Revisions to NIH Fellowship Applications and Review
  • Manne Research Institute Grant Submission and Management Support Information

Download the presentation here.

Effective January 25, 2025: NIH Simplified Peer Review Framework

NIH research project grant applications submitted on or after January 25, 2025, will be evaluated using the new Simplified Peer Review Framework.

From NIH NOT-OD-24-010 and NOT-OD-24-085, we know that:

  • The NIH Simplified Peer Review Framework has been created in response to feedback from the extramural research community concerning the complexity of the peer review process and the increasing responsibilities of peer reviewers.
  • To focus reviewers on the scientific merit and feasibility of research (away from investigator and institutional reputation that may create bias), the five criteria that authors are familiar with will be condensed into three:
    • Factor 1: Importance of the Research (Significance, Innovation)
    • Factor 2: Rigor and Feasibility (Approach, including Clinical Trial Study Timeline)
    • Factor 3: Expertise and Resources (Investigators, Environment)
  • NIH has created a comprehensive website to support the transition from the current peer review criteria to the Simplified Peer Review Framework. 

For more information, access the 2025 NIH Updates presentation on Research Resource Hub.

Effective May 25, 2025: Change from NIH Biosketch to SciENcv for Research Performance Progress Reports

Starting May 25, 2025, the NIH will require that investigators use SciENcv to generate the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support, as well as the new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. This will replace the NIH Biosketch.

  • NIH will be adopting Commons Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support. As a result, the Biosketch and Other Support documents will be getting new names, but there are other important changes we need to prepare for as well.
  • The Common Forms do not collect everything NIH needs, so they are introducing a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement form to collect personal statements, contributions to science, and honors. 
  • All senior/key personnel must link their ORCID ID in SciENcv in the Persistent Identifier field of the Common Forms. Learn how to link your ORCID ID to your Commons profile. 
  • There is no need to wait until May to start using SciENcv. It is fully capable of generating properly formatted NIH biosketches for research and fellowship applications and research performance progress reports.

Q: What happens if you use your NIH biosketch and not your NIH biographical sketch generated by SciENcv for applications and progress reports submitted after May 25, 2025? 

A: Your application or progress report will be rejected.