NIH Guide Notice – Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency

Dear Colleagues:

The following NIH Guide Notice will be of interest to faculty and researchers.

NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-15-103 – Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research (OER) plans to clarify and revise application instructions and review criteria to enhance reproducibility of research findings through increased scientific rigor and transparency. These updates, pending approval by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), will take effect for applications submitted for the January 25, 2016, due date and beyond.

NIH’s mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. Key to the successful application of that knowledge toward health outcomes is scientific rigor in conducting biomedical research. One of NIH’s four stated goals is to exemplify and promote the highest level of scientific integrity, public accountability, and social responsibility in the conduct of science (see http://www.nih.gov/about/mission.htm).

Newly revised grant application instructions will: clarify long-standing expectations to ensure that NIH is funding the best and most rigorous science; highlight the need for applicants to describe details that may have been previously overlooked; highlight the need for reviewers to consider such details in their reviews through revised review criteria; and minimize additional burden. These new instructions and revised review criteria will focus on four areas deemed important for enhancing rigor and transparency: 1) the scientific premise of the proposed research, 2) rigorous experimental design for robust and unbiased results, 3) consideration of relevant biological variables, and 4) authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources. Additional information is contained in the complete notice.

Nancy

Nancy Lewis

Director, Sponsored Projects