NIH: Include individuals across the lifespan

The agency reminds applicants that studies should address age-appropriate inclusion of individuals or justify the exclusion of certain groups. Details are available here.

Changes to the AREA R15 program

NIH now has two R15 programs: AREA and REAP, and both are intended for schools that are not major recipients of agency funding. AREA grants are Academic Research Enhancement Awards for undergraduate institutions. REAP is the Research Enhancement Award Program, which is aimed at graduate schools of arts and sciences and health professional schools.

NIH has provided a roundup of resources about the two programs.

GAO adds science team

The Government Accountability Office has created a Science, Technology Assessment & Analytics Team to audit federal S&T programs, assess technology and compile best practices in engineering. Details are available here.

Lights, camera, science!

The National Science Foundation will present its Spring 2019 Grants Conference May 20-21 in Los Angeles. Registration begins Feb. 14, and details are available here. The conferences usually fill up quickly, so register promptly to ensure a sea.

New NIH website for human subjects research

The agency has launched a new version of its human subjects website in an attempt to simply access to information.

NIH to host grant seminar May 16-17 in Baltimore

The agency will present a regional seminar on program funding and grants administration for researchers and research administrators. Participants can meet with experts and learn about dozens of topics. Event details are available here.

NIH policy change roundup

Human subjects, grant review criteria, eligibility for the AREA program -- NIH has a vareity of new policies for applications submitted on or after Jan. 25. Read all about it here.

Eligibility for NIH AREA grants to change

NIH will no longer publish a list of eligible institutions for its Academic Research Enhancement Awards (R15). Institutions will have to provide an official letter stating their compliance with the new eligibility criteria. See the NIH Guide notice for details.

More tales of the NSF OIG

Plaigiarism in proposals, falsified letters of support, falsified data -- read all about it in the latest NSF OIG report.

Harassment in NIH training applications

Applications for NIH institutional training grants must include a letter describing the institution's commitment to preventing discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices. Details are available here.

NSF to address sexual harassment in terms and conditions

The National Science Foundation seeks to foster safe research environments. To that end, it has drafted a document addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment and sexual assault. The new term and condition will be effective Oct. 22, 2018.

Video: How to apply to NIH

The National Institutes of Health has posted a four-part video series to guide applicants through the proposal process.

NIH diversity efforts need work

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report stated that although NIH has a strategic diversity plan, it needs metrics by which to measure its progress on this front. GAO-18-545

More tales of the NSF OIG

An investigator who received four NSF grants totaling more than $2.3 million submitted false IRB approvals for the projects. Read how the case was settled in the OIG's Semiannual Report to Congress for March 2018.

NSF heads to Coyote State

 The National Science Foundation will present NSF Day March 29 at South Dakota State University. Details are available here.

NSF seeks harassment-free workplace

The National Science Foundation states it won't tolerate harassment, sexual or otherwise, at the agency or among awardee organizations. It has developed a new award requirement addressing the matter. Read about it here.

Finding the right fit

The best project idea in the world won't be funded if you apply to the wrong program. The National Institutes of Health offers advice on selecting the right funding opportunity announcement for your work.

NIH: Use it or lose it

In a November 30 announcement about its closeout policies, NIH urges grantees to spend their awards in a timely fashion:

"NIH will strictly enforce its closeout policies. When recipients fail to submit timely reports, NIH will initiate unilateral closeout. It is important to note that for financial closeout, if a recipient fails to submit a final expenditure FFR, HHS policy directs NIH to close the grant using the last accepted Federal Cash Transaction Report’s cash drawdown amount. This could be considered a debt or result in disallowed costs.  In addition, failure to correct recurring reporting problems may cause NIH to take one or more actions that may include, but are not limited to, corrective actions, withholding of further awards, suspension or termination."

NSF award rates and more

The National Science Foundation has released its annual report on merit review, which includes award rates by program, by investigator characteristics and other information. You can get a copy of the document, "Report to the National Science Board on the National Science Foundation's Merit Review Process Fiscal Year 2016" here.

Want your NIH funds promptly? Do your public access diligence

The National Institutes of Health has guidelines for making grantee publications publicly accessible. If you don't meet those guidelines, future funding can be delayed. Read a summary of the guidelines here.