Revised NIH Policy On Submission of a Revised (Amended) Application

In submitting a revised application, it is worth noting that, a lengthy hiatus after the initial submission may be marked by significant advances in the scientific field and the comments of the reviewers may no longer be relevant. Principal investigators and their institutions need to exercise their best judgment in determining the advisability of submitting a revised application after several years have elapsed.

Investigators who have submitted three versions of an application and have not been successful often ask NIH staff how different the next application submitted has to be to be considered a new application. Simply rewording the title and Specific Aims or incorporating minor changes in response to comments in the previous Summary Statement does not constitute a substantial change in scope or content. Changes to the Research Plan should produce a significant change in direction and approach for the research project. Thus, a new application would include substantial changes in all sections of the Research Plan, particularly the Specific Aims and the Research Design and Methods sections.

In the referral process, NIH staff look at all aspects of the application, not just the title and abstract. Requesting review by a different review committee does not affect the implementation of this policy. When necessary, previous applications are analyzed for similarities to the present one. Thus, identical applications or those with only minor changes will not be accepted for review.

For the entire announcement and contact information, click here: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-041.html

REMINDER! ORA Internal Deadline is 3 Days Prior to Sponsor Due Date

The Office of Research Administration (ORA) regrets that we can no longer accommodate requests for accelerated review of proposals that arrive at the ORA less than three full business days prior to the sponsor due date. Proposals received by ORA later than three full business days prior to the sponsor due date will no longer be reviewed by ORA for submission prior to the due date.

Effective for all proposals due on or after June 1, 2003, the administrative portions of grant or contract proposals, supplements and amendments, including electronic proposals*, must be received by the Office of Research Administration (ORA) not less than three full business days prior to the sponsor due date. We have experienced a continual expansion of the number of late proposals seeking exception to our internal deadline and can no longer make any exceptions.

*For any electronic proposal requiring an ORA official to electronically submit or authorize the full, final proposal (e.g., Department of Defense, National Science Foundation), investigators must have all portions of the electronic application -- including the final scientific narrative -- complete and uploaded to the sponsor's server at the same time the routed paper copy is submitted to ORA. Therefore, both the routed paper copy and full electronic proposal must be available to ORA at least three full business days before the sponsor's deadline to permit timely ORA review and submission of the final application. Finally, either the PI (or someone provided access to the electronic proposal by the PI) must be available during the 3-day ORA review period in case changes must be made prior to approval/submission.

Please check your deadlines and plan accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation.

Research Patient Care Rates for Clinical Trials

A blended rate payment percentage has been approved for outstanding non-GCRC research receivables. The rates in effect through December 31, 2003 are 77.6% for JHH and 76.4% for Bayview. In December, we will publish the new rates based upon FY'03's cost reports. These new rates will be effective on January 1, 2004.

Please contact Ms. Elizabeth Davis, Manager of Special Billing at 410-550-5942 if you should have any questions.

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