This happened to us last year when a PI died in a biking accident. We sent
our request to the Program manager with a cc to the grants manager, when
the PI died. We asked for a change in PI. We also had an assistant professor
working with the PI. Although they thought that the work of the
assistant professor was excellent they did not feel that he could match
the expertise of the PI. We were denied the change and the grant was
terminated. So, if I was you I would wait until the PI died unless of
course you need to remove him from the grant because he needs to take a
leave of absence, etc.  When that happens you need to notify NIH immediately.

On Mon, 14 Oct 1996, Research Administration Discussion Group wrote:

> We have an NIH P.I. who is terminally ill and will soon be unable to direct
> the research in his lab.  He has a research asst. prof. working for him and
> currently helping to direct the day-to-day operation of his lab and graduate
> students.  We would like to retain the grant in order
> to allow the research assistant professor and the P.I.'s current graduat>
 students to finish the work supported by the grant. The grant only runs
> approximately 8 more months, but it appears to have sufficient funds to
> support a no-cost extension in order to complete the work.  When are we
> obligated to notify NIH of the P.I.'s situation?  Whom do we notify - program
> or grants management?  How do we go about proposing the research assistant
> professor as a replacement P.I.?  Can all of the above be handled in a
> single letter?
>
> I would like to hear from anyone who has experience in this very unpleasant
> area.
>
> Doug Wilkerson, Ph.D.              VOICE:    (419) 381-4252
> Assoc. V.P. for Research           FAX:      (419) 381-4262
> Professor of Pharmacology          e-mail:   xxxxxx@GEMINI.MCO.EDU
> Medical College of Ohio            WEB:      http://www.mco.edu/research
> 3000 Arlington Ave.
> Toledo, OH 43614
>

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Marianne Rinaldo Woods
Director
Office of Sponsored Projects
University of Texas at Dallas
Phone: 972-883-2313
Fax: 972-883-2310
E-mail: xxxxxx@utdallas.edu
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