NIH Clarifies Guidance for Preparing Applications During the COVID Pandemic and Extends COVID Flexibilities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reminded applicants that while grant applications should not include contingency or recovery plans for problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, investigators may address effects due to the pandemic on productivity or other scoreable issues in the personal statement of the biosketch. If needed, NIH will assess plans to resolve specific problems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prior to funding.

NIH will extend through December 31, 2021 existing COVID flexibilities permitting online training applying to all awards requiring instruction in the responsible conduct of research, including research training grants, fellowships, individual and institutional career development awards, and research education awards. Grant recipients do not need to seek prior approval to do so.

To read the full article by NIH staff posted August 27, 2021, see Clarified Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To read the full article by NIH staff posted August 24, 2021, see Extension of COVID Flexibilities for Method of Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research