Updated Instructions to the PHS 398 Forms Now Available

Updated instructions to the PHS 398 (DHHS Public Health Service Grant Applications) are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm. The PHS 398 form was updated in Fall 2004. All applications received by the NIH on or after May 10, 2005 must use the new instructions and forms. Notable changes made to the PHS 398 are posted at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/ phs398/phs398.html#updates and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-006.html.


Revised Signature Authority Memo

The Johns Hopkins Medicine Institutional Official Signing Authority memo has been updated. You may view the new information at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/
Research/ handbook/appendixg.html. Please be sure to update the signature blocks on all grant proposals submitted to the Office of Research Administration (ORA) effective May 1, 2004.


Office of the Provost Announces Policy for Limited Submission Programs

There are a variety of calls for or invitations to submit research, career scholar, or educational proposals in which the sponsor will only review a certain number of proposals from an Institution. Any such Institutional limits are explicitly outlined in the eligibility requirements of the RFA or RFP.

The Office of the Provost has instituted processes to select applications for programs where the number of proposals that may be submitted by an institution is limited. The process may either involve selection by a standing or ad hoc committee appointed by the Provost, or in the case of programs specific to a single school the review will be conducted within that school. For the majority of these programs, the Office of the Provost will announce a deadline for internal peer review. Grace Bigelow, Administrative Coordinator in the Office of Research Projects Administration, is responsible for coordination of this process. Programs specific to the School of Medicine are coordinated by Amanda Gibson in the SOM Office of Research Administration.

Notwithstanding that we make every effort to be aware of and to announce programs with limitations on proposal submission, this is not always possible. Therefore, investigators who wish to apply to a program for which submission is limited, and where an internal selection process has not been announced, should contact Grace Bigelow at 410-516-5256, graceb@jhu.edu and/or Amanda Gibson at 410-955-1566, agibson8@jhmi.edu as soon as possible. They will determine if peer-reviewed selection is necessary and assist the investigator in obtaining Institutional endorsement.

It is important that all University faculty adhere to this policy. The submission of additional proposals beyond the Institutional limit does not reflect well on the University, and may prevent a sponsor's review of applications from other Hopkins investigators.

Electronic Submission of Streamlined Non-Competing Applications (eSNAP) Anticipated in Fall 2005

JHU SOM investigators will be able to submit Streamlined Non-Competing Applications electronically as soon as departmental signature authority for eSNAP submissions is available in the NIH eRA Commons. This improvement to the Commons is now anticipated in fall of 2005. eSNAPs submitted via the Commons will generate automatic quarterly requests for ORA to verify that Human and Animal approvals have been obtained. Separate from the eSNAP submission, ORA will develop a procedure to collect protocol updates from PIs. Implementation of the eSNAP procedure will be announced in future editions of Research WebNotes. Meanwhile, please follow current departmental procedures for SNAP submissions.

eIS Training Schedule for April and May Announced

The SOM Office of Research Administration is offering eIS training for both faculty and staff. Please visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Research/training/eIStraining.html for the complete April and May 2005 eIS training schedule.

Faculty eIS training sessions provide a brief overview of the eIS system and instruct PIs how to complete the compliance section of the eIS. All faculty are encouraged to attend. Sessions last approximately 30 minutes.

Hands-on eIS training sessions demonstrate how to create, complete, and circulate an eIS. All staff who process information sheets on a regular basis are encouraged to attend. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes and pre-registration is required.

eIS refresher courses provide an opportunity for staff to ask questions about the eIS. Staff who have previously attended a hands-on session or are unable to attend a hands-on session are encouraged to attend. Sessions last approximately 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the volume of questions.

For additional information about the eIS, please visit the SOM eIS page at http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Research/Resources/eIS

NIH Guidance on Stipends and Taxes

The NIH recently posted a new Q&A to its web page, "NIH Research Training Opportunities: Frequently Asked Questions - NRSA Training Grants" concerning the taxation of NRSA pre- and post-doc stipends. The Q&A is number 31 on http://grants.nih.gov/training/faq_training.htm. The IRS and Treasury Department recently released final regulations (http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-27919.pdf) and supplemental guidance (http://www.irs.gov/irb/2005-02_IRB/ar16.html) which "clarify" the student exception to the FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes. Questions have been raised about the impact of these regulations on Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) supported by the NIH. NIH states, "Our understanding is that these final regulations do not apply to or impact Kirschstein-NRSA programs or awards. An NRSA stipend is provided by the NIH as a subsistence allowance for Kirschstein-NRSA fellows and trainees to help defray living expenses during the research training experience. NRSA recipients are not considered employees of the Federal government or the grantee institution for purposes of the award. We must note that NIH takes no position on the status of a particular taxpayer, nor does it have the authority to dispense tax advice. The interpretation and implementation of the tax laws are the domain of the IRS."

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