The R01 (or R01-equivalent) grant has traditionally been a critical component to the launch of one’s research career. A number of academic leaders have described and expressed concerns about the age at which scientists are first supported on an R01 award (“age at first R01”). The biomedical research workforce is aging over the past several decades due to demographic trends and the end of mandatory retirement in academia. Here we present data from fiscal years 1995 to 2020 on age at first R01-equivalent grant.

The NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD) Office is hosting a seminar and virtual forum on faculty cohort recruitment programs and other evidence-based strategies as tools to foster diversity. The first event will be on December 8, while the second will be in February 2022. Both events are open to NIH staff and the public.

Diversity is inextricably tied to the success of the NIH mission, thus ensuring diversity within the extramural biomedical research workforce is of utmost importance. We are aware that NIH’s recent decision to rescind a “Notice of Special Interest” (or NOSI) – intended solely to call attention to the presence of a specific funding opportunity announcement and encourage researchers from underrepresented groups to apply – may have caused some to question this commitment. While the spirit of the NOSI was laudable, it may have led to an impression that by linking demographic characteristics to grant proposals, applications supporting scientists from underrepresented groups would be automatically prioritized for funding. Read on for more.

Hopefully, you’ve seen our notices, tweets, and previous Nexus posts regarding our pending transition to an updated set of grant application forms we refer to as FORMS-G. If so, you already know that you must use FORMS-G forms for grant application due dates on or after January 25, 2022 and FORMS-F for due dates on or before January 24, 2022. You might have even started preparing your FORMS-G application. Here are a few updates and tips to help navigate the transition.

Enhanced checks on non-compliance with clinical trial registration and reporting came into effect in eRA’s Human Subjects System on October 1 that could delay your RPPR submission if you are late on either front.

Some NIH programs, such as fellowship and mentored career development awards, require the submission of reference letters. PIs designate 3-5 referees to submit letters directly through eRA Commons that are then linked to their submitted applications. The eRA Commons screens for submitting reference letters were recently updated to enhance user experience, security, and stability. Since many of our resources were updated to reflect the new link used for submitting a reference letter, we thought a resource roundup was in order.

Did you miss our webinar designed for institutions with little NIH research support? The recording is available now! 

Beginning with application due dates on or after January 25, 2022, NIH will require eRA Commons IDs in the Credential field of the Sr/Key Person Profile form for all individuals listed on that form. Given this expanded requirement, we’ve received an increase in inquiries related to obtaining and including eRA Commons IDs, especially for individuals not affiliated with an eRA Commons registered organization.