Notice of Clarification of Information for NIGMS Prior Approval of Pilot Projects Proposed for Support by IDeA Program Grants

Notice Number: NOT-GM-14-111

Key Dates
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Related Announcements
PAR-14-035 (COBRE Phase I)
PAR-13-243 (COBRE Phase II)
PAR-13-238 (COBRE Phase III)
PAR-12-205 (INBRE)
PAR-11-229 (IDeA CTR)

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

Pilot project support is an integral part of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program. Awardee-selected projects require prior approval by NIH prior to initiation (see the NIH Grants Policy Statement 8.1.3 Requests for Prior Approval for instructions on submitting a request). To reduce administrative burden on grantees and streamline the approval of pilot project proposals, NIGMS is reducing the information requirements.

Previous requirements
Prior to the commencement of any pilot project, the following documentation must be submitted to NIGMS staff:

  • External Advisory Committee approval of pilot project
  • Description of pilot project
  • PD/PI biographical sketch and other support information
  • Detailed budget with justification
  • Checklist Format Page with F&A cost breakdown
  • IRB approval, human subjects education certification, and Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table (if applicable)
  • IACUC approval (if applicable)

Revised requirements
Effective immediately, streamlined requirements for review of pilot projects are in place. Prior to the commencement of any pilot project, the following documentation must be submitted to NIGMS staff by the PI through the institutional signing official:

  • Pilot project proposal. Using PHS398 forms and instructions, only the following sections have to be submitted:

a. Face page
b. Project Summary (page 2)
c. Research Strategy section

  • EAC approval communication from the EAC chair (at a minimum) indicating that the EAC concurs with supporting the pilot project.
  • IRB approval, human subjects protection section, human subjects education certification, and Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table (if applicable).
  • IACUC approval, vertebrate animal 5 points (if applicable)

This revision takes into account that the structure of each IDeA program has undergone peer review and NIGMS staff review. This new guideline will allow for faster preparation and submission of pilot project requests to NIGMS. The NIGMS Staff review will also be streamlined allowing for expedient decisions on proposed pilot projects.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Ms. Christy Leake
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-594-7706
Email: Christy.Leake@nih.gov

Yanping Liu, MD, PhD
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-594-3900
Email: liuyanp@mail.nih.gov