UPDATE: NIH Issues Announcement on the Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page
NIH has issued a follow-up notice to NOT-OD-21-073 on the upcoming changes to the biographical sketch and other support format pages. Per the new announcement NOT-OD-21-110, “NIH expects* applicants and recipients to use the updated biosketch and other support format for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) as of May 25, 2021. NIH will require* the use of the updated format pages for the previously mentioned submissions for anything on and after January 25, 2022.”
*emphasis added.
In addition, NIH states:
“Please note, applicants and recipients remain responsible for disclosing all research endeavors regardless of the version of the forms used. Therefore, if applicants and recipients choose not to use the updated format pages before they are required, applicants and recipients must still capture all the necessary information.”
As of this most recent Notice, NIH has not specified a limited lookback period for disclosures under Section B of the biographical sketch, “Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors. As we have previously advised, for biographical sketches being submitted with NIH institutional training grants due May 25, if you are pressed for space, we encourage you to prioritize disclosure of Scientific Appointments held during the last three years, both domestic and foreign, including any affiliations with foreign entities or governments. A scientific appointment can include participation in study sections, membership in a scientific society, board membership, and some consulting appointments.
All positions, however, should be included. This includes employment history or any kind of institutional appointment, whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary).
We will resume our webinars to train on the new biosketches and other support format pages. You can register below using a Columbia-affiliated email address. Additional webinars are being scheduled now, and we will send a separate email once the schedule is finalized. If you have immediate questions about the forms, please contact your SPA Project Officer. You can send policy-related questions to me at prior to the webinars at [email protected], and to assist us in the creation of FAQs.
Webinars:
Changes to the NIH Biosketch
Wednesday, May 5, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
NIH Other Support Format Pages
Wednesday, May 5, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
NIH Other Support Format Pages
Wednesday, May 19, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm