Major Changes in NIH Application Forms, Page Limits, and Instructions Starting January 2010

Restructured Application Forms and Instructions for Submissions for FY2011 Funding
NOT-OD-09-149
Key Dates
Release Date: September 16, 2009
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The application form and instructions for NIH applications are changing significantly in January 2010.

*         Please review the new guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-149.html.
*         Please send questions to grantsinfo@od.nih.gov.

Affects NIH applications with due dates on or after January 25, 2010
*         Shortened Page Limits
*         Alignment of the Application with Peer Review Criteria

This notice announces that new, restructured versions of the paper PHS 398 and electronic SF 424 (R&R) application packages and instructions will be available by December 2009.

Applicants must download and use the new application packages for submissions targeting due dates on or after January 25, 2010 (funding for fiscal year (FY) 2011 and beyond).  Changes include significantly shorter page limits and restructured application packages.  These changes will affect all competing applications submitted to NIH, as follows:

*   all applications (including individual Career Awards) electronically submitted using application packages that combine the SF 424 (R&R) with PHS 398 components (e.g, PHS 398 Research Plan Component and PHS 398 Career Development Supplement Form);
*   all electronically submitted Individual NRSA Fellowship applications using application packages that combine the SF 424 (R&R) with the PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form; and
*   all applications using the paper PHS 398 application package.