Summary: still only two revisions allowed, but 2- year time limit for
revisions removed. Includes warning 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."
Chuck
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>REVISED NIH POLICY ON SUBMISSION OF A REVISED (AMENDED) APPLICATION
>
>RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2003
>
>NOTICE: NOT-OD-03-041
>
>National Institutes of Health (NIH)
>
>On June 27, 1997 the NIH issued a notice in the NIH Guide for Grants
>and Contracts (see
><http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-011.html>)
>that limited the number of revised or amended
>applications permitted as well as the time window during which those
>amended applications would be received. This announcement reiterates
>the NIH policy on the number of amended applications permitted but
>eliminates the two-year restriction on the receipt of those
>applications.
>
>Accordingly, the NIH will not consider any A3 or higher amendment to an
>application for extramural support. But, beginning on the date of this
>announcement, there is no longer a time limit for the submission of the
>first and second revisions (A1 and A2). This policy applies to all NIH
>extramural funding mechanisms.
>
>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.
>
>The policy limiting the number of revisions was established following
>analysis of data indicating that investigators who receive initial
>funding for an amended application have a lower success rate in
>obtaining support for a follow-on competing application. The
>likelihood of subsequent success decreased with an increasing number of
>amendments. After three reviews, it was felt that it was time for
>investigators to take a fresh approach to their research proposals.
>
>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. It
>is recognized that investigators are trained in a particular field of
>science and are not likely to make drastic changes in their research
>interests, however, a new application following three reviews is
>expected to be substantially different in content and scope with more
>significant differences than are normally encountered in a revised
>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.
>
>Inquiries:
>
>Office of Extramural Programs
>Office of the Director
>Phone 301-435-2768
>
>Division of Receipt and Referral
>Center for Scientific Review
>Phone 301-435-0715
Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO BOX 980568
Richmond, VA 23298-0568
Express Delivery Only:
Biotech One, Suite 113
Virginia Biotechnology Research Park
800 East Leigh Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Voice: 804-828-6772
Fax 804-828-2521
OFFICE e-mail xxxxxx@VCU.EDU
Personal e-mail xxxxxx@vcu.edu
http://www.research.vcu.edu/ospa.htm
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