NOT-OD-19-056 Clarifies for the community that information regarding institutional commitment to ensuring that proper policies and oversight are in place to prevent discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices is to be included in the same letter with the information about the applicant institutional commitment to the planned program. Separate letters are not required.
 
 

As of January 21, 2019, studies initiated on or after that date are expected to comply with all Revised Common Rule requirements for the remainder of the study including:
1) removal of the requirement for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to review grant applications and contract proposals related to research (see NOT-OD-19-055)
2) a new requirement for clinical trial informed consent documents to be posted on a public federal government website;
3) changes to categories of research that qualify for an exemption;

Fy19 funding levels will generally be issued at the commitment level on notice of award, NRSA stipends will increase by ~2%, meritorious ESI R01 equivalent applications will be prioritized, salary limits are set at Exec. Level II ($189,600). See NOT-OD-19-031 
 

Input is sought on the draft report and proposed recommendations to reduce the administrative burden associated with research activities with laboratory animals while maintaining protections and scientific integrity. (NOT-OD-19-028) The draft is available at https://olaw.nih.gov/sites/default/files/21CCA_draft_report.pdf.

As of January 2019, NIH is shifting its approach to the use of the R15 activity code. The name, AREA, will be reserved for grants to undergraduate-focused institutions that do not receive substantial funding from NIH. NIH will also offer R15 opportunities to support graduate schools of arts and sciences and health professional schools. We will be calling this the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP).