NIH Policy Updates: A Guide to 2024 Amendments

Staying informed about the latest policy updates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is crucial for researchers and institutions involved in NIH-funded projects. Policy notices published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts are the official source for these changes, superseding information found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Compliance with these updates becomes a term and condition of any award. This guide summarizes selected NIH policy notices from 2024, offering a comprehensive overview for those seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of NIH grants and contracts.

Key NIH Policy Notices of 2024: A Monthly Breakdown

Below is a curated list of significant policy notices issued by the NIH in 2024, categorized by month for easier navigation. For a complete and continuously updated list, please refer to the NIH Guide Home Page.

December 2024:

Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy: Government Use License and Rights: Further clarification on government rights and licenses related to the Public Access Policy.
2024 NIH Public Access Policy: Outlines the updated NIH Public Access Policy for 2024, detailing requirements for making research publications publicly accessible.
Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Public Access Policy: Publication Costs: Additional guidelines regarding allowable publication costs under the 2024 Public Access Policy.
NIH Requires Mandatory Use of the eRA Prior Approval Module for the Submission of Prior Approval Requests for all SBIR and STTR Awards Beginning January 27, 2025: Mandatory use of the eRA system for prior approval requests for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards starting in 2025.
Reminder of Updates to NIH Training Grant Application Data Tables for Application Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025: Highlights upcoming changes to data table requirements for training grant applications with deadlines in 2025 and beyond.
Standard Language for Developer Terms of Access in the Terms and Conditions of Award: Provides standard language for developer terms of access to be included in award terms and conditions.

November 2024:

Reminder that Multiple Changes Affecting Extramural Applications and Review are Coming for Application Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025: Emphasizes several upcoming changes impacting application submission and review processes for extramural grants.
Reminder: FORMS-I Grant Application Forms and Instructions Must be Used for Due Dates On or After January 25, 2025: Mandates the use of FORMS-I for grant applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2025.
Updated Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements: Provides updated guidance on salary limitations for NIH grants and cooperative agreements.

October 2024:

Announcement of Childcare Costs for Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Programs F99 Recipients: Announces the availability of childcare cost support for recipients of Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Programs (F99).
NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution: Confirms that NIH is operating under a continuing resolution, impacting funding availability and grant processes.

September 2024:

Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health: Publishes the final Scientific Integrity Policy for the NIH, outlining standards for scientific conduct.
Reminder: Reporting Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan Activities in Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) Submitted on or After October 1, 2024: Reminds recipients to report DMS plan activities in Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) starting October 1, 2024.
Updated Processes for Requesting Revisions to an Approved Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan: Details updated procedures for requesting revisions to approved Data Management and Sharing (DMS) plans.

August 2024:

Retirement of NIHs Automated Just-in-Time Email Notification: Announces the retirement of NIH’s automated Just-in-Time email notification system.

July 2024:

NIHs Adoption of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support by May 25, 2025: Announces the NIH’s adoption of common forms for biographical sketches and current and pending support documents, effective May 2025.
Single Audit Requirements for Foreign Recipients and Subrecipients of NIH Grants: Specifies single audit requirements for foreign recipients and subrecipients of NIH grants.
Prior Approval Requirement for Changes to Domestic Subawards for the SBIR and STTR Programs: Institutes a prior approval requirement for changes to domestic subawards within the SBIR and STTR programs.

June 2024:

New eRA Human Subjects System Capabilities for Awarded NIH R&D Contract Vendors to Directly Enter Inclusion Data: Introduces new capabilities within the eRA Human Subjects System for contract vendors to directly input inclusion data.

May 2024:

Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025: Details updates to institutional training grant applications for deadlines in 2025 and beyond.
Childcare Costs for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellows and Institutional Research Training Awards: Announces the availability of childcare cost support for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellows and trainees.
Adjustments to NIH and AHRQ Grant Application Due Dates On and Between May 18 and May 21, 2024: Notifies applicants of adjustments to grant application due dates within a specific timeframe in May 2024.
Reporting Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan Activities in the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR): Provides guidance on reporting Data Management and Sharing (DMS) plan activities within the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR).
Continued Extension of Certain Flexibilities for Prospective Basic Experimental Studies with Human Participants: Extends certain flexibilities for basic experimental studies involving human participants.
Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. April 2024) for Fiscal Year 2024: Announces the publication of the revised NIH Grants Policy Statement for Fiscal Year 2024.

April 2024:

Notice of Legislative Mandates in Effect for FY 2024: Lists legislative mandates in effect for Fiscal Year 2024, impacting NIH grant administration.
Notice of Fiscal Policies in Effect for FY 2024: Details fiscal policies in effect for Fiscal Year 2024, relevant to NIH grants.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2024: Announces updated stipend levels, tuition/fees, and other budgetary levels for NRSA awards in Fiscal Year 2024.
Implementation of Revisions to the NIH and AHRQ Fellowship Application and Review Process: Implements revisions to the application and review process for NIH and AHRQ fellowship applications.
Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025: Provides an overview of significant changes to grant application and review processes for deadlines in 2025 and beyond.
New NIH “FORMS-I” Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025: Announces the upcoming release of new FORMS-I grant application forms and instructions.
Simplified Review Framework for NIH Research Project Grant Applications – Update and Implementation Plans: Updates on the simplified review framework for NIH research project grant applications and implementation plans.

March 2024:

Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Inspections of Animal Facilities: Provides guidance on flexibilities for conducting semiannual inspections of animal facilities.
Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Program Review: Offers guidance on flexibilities for conducting semiannual program reviews.
Guidance for Videos Submitted as NIH Application Materials: Provides guidance on the appropriate use of videos submitted as application materials.
NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution: Confirms NIH operation under a continuing resolution, impacting funding and grant processes.

February 2024:

Update Related to the Issuance of the FY 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Provides an update related to the release of the FY 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement.
NIH Guidance on Marking Changes in Resubmission Applications: Offers guidance on how to properly mark changes in resubmission applications.
NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution: Another notice confirming NIH operation under a continuing resolution.

January 2024:

Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2024: Provides salary limitation guidance for grants and cooperative agreements for Fiscal Year 2024.
NIH Enforcement of Unilateral Closeout Reporting in the System for Award Management Responsibility/Qualification (formerly Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)): Details NIH enforcement of unilateral closeout reporting within the System for Award Management.

Staying Updated

This guide provides a snapshot of the key policy notices from 2024. It is essential to regularly consult the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts for the most up-to-date information and any new notices that may be published. Subscribing to the NIH Guide LISTSERV (Subscribe in the original document) is also highly recommended to receive weekly notifications of new policy updates and funding opportunities directly.

By staying informed about these policy amendments, researchers and institutions can ensure compliance and effectively manage their NIH-funded research endeavors.