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Summary of Changes to NIH Policies

Date: 4.6.2026

RECENT UPDATES SUPERCEDING MARCH 26TH GPS

Update of NIH Late Application Submission Policy and End of Continuous Submission NOT-OD-26-064

  • The NIH is ending the Continuous Submission Policy and updating the Late Application Submission Policy to designate participation in a recent review or advisory group meeting as an acceptable reason for late submission.
  • Continuous Submission applications will be accepted through August 10, 2026 (the end of the continuous submission receipt period for the June/July standard due dates) for assignment to January 2027 Council.

Policy

  • if within four calendar weeks before or after the due date, any PD/PI named on the application participates in
    • An NIH peer review study section or special emphasis panel
    • An NIH Board of Scientific Counselors, Program Advisory Committee, or an NIH Advisory Board or Council

This specific review service is the only pre-authorized reason for a late submission (i.e., automatically accepted once review service information provided in the cover letter is confirmed). Other types of NIH activities and services for other federal agencies or private organizations are not acceptable reasons for late submission.


Prior Approval Requirement for Changes to Domestic Subawards  NOT-OD-26-062

  • As of June 1, we now must request prior approval for the addition of an domestic subaward on any project (when the subaward was not indicated in the proposal). 


Research Security Training Requirements for NIH  NOT-OD-26-017

Effective Date: At this time, the research security training requirement is optional. Completion of RST and the individual and institutional certifications will be effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026.

 This notice notifies the extramural community of the NIH implementation of the Research Security Training (RST) requirements outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167).

Temple University has adopted the CITI "Research Security Training (Combined Course)" which fulfills current training requirements.

The training can be accessed at CITI Program. You will have to log in to your CITI Program account and select "Add a Course" under the "My courses" tab. If you do not have a CITI Program account yet, click on the "Register" button at the right top corner and follow directions to create and affiliate your account with Temple University. After that, you will have access to all the courses offered by Temple and the option to add and complete the "Research Security Training (Combined Course)."

 Upon completion of the course, you will obtain a dated certificate, which will serve as official documentation of your training. In addition, training completion for key personnel listed in proposals will be tracked in ERA and confirmed prior to submission. Please note your proposal may not be submitted by Temple University if training requirements have not been met.

 Your cooperation is essential to ensuring Temple University's compliance with federal requirements and to safeguarding the integrity of our research enterprise. Thank you in advance for your timely completion of this important training.

 Information on federal requirements and Temple policy and procedures in relation to research security continues to evolve. Please visit the Research Security page periodically for the most up-to-date information.

 For questions regarding the training requirement, please contact Dwayne King at dwayne.king@temple.edu.


Highlights of Significant Changes to the NIHGPS March 2026 Version


Updated references to diversity, equity, and inclusion plans, gender and/or policies no longer in effect in line with updated NIH priorities.

  • Priorities:  This document has been prepared in furtherance of the NIH Director’s responsibility to provide the overall direction of NIH, to establish and implement general policies respecting the management and operation of NIH programs and activities, and to coordinate and oversee the operation of NIH’s institutes, centers, and offices. See 42 U.S.C. § 282(b)(1) & (2). Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all agency priorities. This document is intended to clarify specific issues that currently require additional guidance. NIH continues to support projects across the full spectrum of biomedical research topics. Through an executive order on Gold-Standard Science and the Make America Healthy Again Commission Report, the President has directed the NIH to close critical research gaps and guide efforts to better combat chronic disease in America and improve the health of all Americans through gold-standard science. To meet these requirements and fulfill our mission, NIH is prioritizing research in the following areas:


NIH no longer recognizes foreign subawards. See NOT-OD-25-104.


Requirements for Submitting Unsolicited Applications Requesting $500,000 or More in Direct Costs Section deleted in accordance with NOT-OD-26-019.


Added new section outlining calendar year limits for applications from an individual Principal Investigator/ Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator in line with NOT-OD-25-132.

Added new section outlining the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence in line with NOT-OD-25-132.

  • More information: Policy NOT-OD-25-132: NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants. If the detection of AI is identified post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct while simultaneously taking enforcement actions including but not limited to disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.
  • NIH will only accept six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year. This policy applies to all activity codes except T activity codes and R13 Conference Grant Applications. Based on recent data, this limit will affect a relatively small number of Principal Investigators while enabling the NIH to maintain consistently high-quality grant application review and appropriately steward taxpayer dollars. 


Edited to reflect updates related to the Simplified Peer Review Framework and the centralization of peer review within the Center for Scientific Review. See NOT-OD-25-135.


Added language requiring recipients to implement trainings on other support disclosure requirements for all faculty and researchers identified as Senior/Key Personnel in line with NOT-OD-25-133.


NIH is not changing the definition of clinical trials. However, NIH will no longer characterize Basic Experimental Studies in Humans (BESH) as clinical trials in line with NOT-OD-26-032.


Added closeout costs as an allowable cost in line with 2 CFR 200.472(b).


New section on Research Security Training requirements. See NOT-OD-26-017.

  • Policy: Effective Date: At this time, the research security training requirement is optional. Completion of RST and the individual and institutional certifications will be effective for applications submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2026.


New section notifying recipients that NIH may terminate awards, to the extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities. See NOT-OD-26-009.

Scored Review Criteria: Updated review criteria and related verbiage in line with NOT-OD-24-107.