Updates on Addressing Rigor in Your NIH Applications

As NIH moves ahead with implementing measures to enhance rigor, transparency and reproducibility in NIH-supported research, I’d like to give a brief update on these efforts, and highlight some important timeline changes for implementation in applications for institutional training grants (T), institutional career development awards (K12), and individual fellowships (F).
To briefly recap, in October, NIH announced updates to the application instructions and review criteria for most research grants and individual mentored career development awards. These updates instruct applicants to address four key areas NIH deems important for enhancing rigor and transparency in research: 1) the scientific premise forming the basis of the proposed research; 2) rigorous experimental design for valid, robust, and unbiased results; 3) consideration of relevant biological variables; and 4) authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources. My October blog post, “Bolstering Trust in Science Through Rigorous Standards,” describes the rationale behind the changes and the steps NIH has taken to engage the community in these efforts.
For the January 25, 2016 application due dates, the updates apply to most NIH research grant applications, with some exceptions, as described in the October NIH Guide notice. We also announced requirements to address rigor in individual mentored career development award applications submitted after January 25, 2016. In addition, Research Performance Progr...

Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 11, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike Grants policy reproducibility rigor Training Source Type: funding