New NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications Aull, Robert Matthew 08 Oct 2008 09:42 EST

NIH has revised its renewal policy from three strikes to "two strikes and you're out."

Currently funded projects will be grandfathered to allow three attempts for continued funding but they won't accept any -A2 applications after January 7, 2011.

1st try: R01AA012345-06
2nd try: R01AA012345-06A1
3rd try: R01AA012345-06A2 (NLT 7 Jan 11)

Robert Aull
Indiana University

New NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications
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Notice Number: NOT-OD-09-003

Key Dates
Release Date:  October 8, 2008

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)

Purpose

NIH announces a change in the existing policy on resubmission (amended)
applications (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/amendedapps.htm).
Beginning with original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and
competing renewal applications submitted for the January 25, 2009 due dates
and beyond, the NIH will accept only a single amendment to the original
application.  Failure to receive funding after two submissions (i.e., the
original and the single amendment) will mean that the applicant should
substantially re-design the project rather than simply change the application in response to previous reviews.  It is expected that this policy will lead to funding high quality applications earlier, with fewer resubmissions.

Background

Following the release of the Peer Review Report that was drafted with
extensive consultation with the external community, Dr. Zerhouni, NIH
Director, established a Peer Review Oversight Committee (PROC) to finalize
the recommendations and begin immediate implementation of those
recommendations.  Of particular concern was the marked reduction in the
number of awards made in response to original applications.  An increasing
number of projects were funded only after one or more resubmissions.   In
periods of constricted funding, a greater number of projects require
resubmission, and review committees are more likely to show greater
preference for amended applications.  These trends have increased the time
from original submission to award and the number of submissions per
investigator. As a result, there has been greater burden placed on applicants and reviewers as well as a delay in funding for meritorious science.

To change this trend and increase the likelihood that meritorious original
applications will be funded, the NIH will decrease the number of amendments
allowed.  Accordingly, the NIH will begin to phase out second amendment
applications starting with the January 25, 2009 due date. This policy will
increase the numbers of high quality original and first amendments that can
be funded earlier.

NIH Policy on Resubmission (Amended) Applications

Beginning with applications intended for the January 25, 2009 due date, all
original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal
applications will be permitted only a single amendment (A1).  For this and
subsequent cohorts of original new and competing renewal applications, any
second amendment (A2) will be administratively withdrawn and not accepted for review.   Applicants who fail to receive funding after two submissions may resubmit but only if the application is fundamentally revised to qualify as new.  A new application is expected to be substantially different in content and scope with more significant differences than are normally encountered in an amended application.  Note that there is no time limit for the submission of the original and subsequent A1.

Original new and competing renewal applications that were submitted prior to
January 25, 2009 will be permitted two amendments (A1 and A2).  For these
"grandfathered" applications, NIH expects that any A2 will be submitted no
later than January 7, 2011, and NIH will not accept A2 applications after
that date.

This policy applies to all applications, including applications submitted
under the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, Career Development Awards, Individual
Fellowships, Institutional Training Grants, Resource Grants, Program
Projects, and Centers.  Currently no amendments are permitted for
applications received in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) unless
it is specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, in which case only
one amendment will be permitted.  ations (RFA) unless it is specified in the
Funding Opportunity Announcement, in which case only one amendment will be
permitted.

Inquiries

Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their questions with their NIH
IC contact.  For additional information or questions, please contact:

Division of Receipt and Referral
Center for Scientific Review
6701 Rockledge Drive MSC 7720
Bethesda, MD  20892-7720
Voice:  (301) 435-0715
Fax:  (301) 480-1987

Or send an email to xxxxxx@mail.nih.gov.

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