Institution and Sponsor Updates
From time to time Columbia University and funding agencies – both government and private - announce changes to their requirements and polices.
The Mailman School of Public Health Grants and Contracts monitors these updates and posts them below.
1. Research Administration Forums
The Research Administration Forums is an opportunity to provide the Columbia community with important updates on sponsored projects and research administration. Anyone at Morningside, CUMC, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Nevis Laboratories involved in the development, submission and overall management of sponsored projects is invited and encouraged to attend. It is an opportunity to provide you with regular updates and answer your questions.
The purpose of these forums is to provide communications on:
- Sponsor news and hot topics
- Policy and procedure additions or updates
- Updates on electronic grant submission / InfoEd / Rascal
- Internal structural changes that may affect your day to day management of grants
- Pre- and post-award issues
2. NIH’s Adoption of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support by May 25, 2025 NOT-OD-24-163- National Institutes of Health
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-24-163.html
This Guide Notice informs the extramural community of NIH’s adoption of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support to be used with all applications and Research Performance Progress Report(s) (RPPRs) by May 25, 2025.NIH will implement the Common Forms without change to any collection fields. However, in accordance with NIH’s Peer Review Regulations at 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 52h, NIH currently plans to continue collecting three required agency-specific data elements (i.e., Personal Statement, Contributions to Science, and Honors) to assess qualifications. These data elements will be collected separately from the Common Forms on a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement.
3. Preview of FORMS-I Application Form and Training Data Table Changes Coming in 2025
Later this fall, NIH will post version FORMS-I of our grant application forms and training data table format pages to support the changes coming to NIH application and peer review for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. The posting effort will begin in late October and continue through November.
Although you can’t complete your application forms until the updated form packages are posted to active opportunities and final training data table format pages are posted in our Forms Directory, you can certainly get started preparing your application attachments and planning for training table data collection. You can finalize your drafts when the forms, format pages, and instructions are made available.
4. Updated Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Effective October 1, 2024, the HHS policy on salary rate limitation outlines that the legislative mandate limiting salary to Executive Level II, currently $221,900, applies to both direct and indirect salaries. The policy change applies to new, competing renewal, and non-competing continuation awards issued on or after October 1, 2024.
5. Sponsor Guidance Available for Fellowship Applications with Due Dates On/After January 25, 2025
Is a graduate student or postdoc in your lab planning to apply for an NIH fellowship in 2025? We encourage fellowship applications on or after January 25, 2025, to review the NIH fellowship sponsor guidance page.
6. eRA Information: New Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy Questions in RPPR as of October 1, 2024, and Other DMS Changes
Effective for Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) due on or after October 1, 2024, a set of new questions has been added, asking NIH recipients for details on how they are adhering to their approved Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan, if applicable.
Note that RPPR users who have initiated but not submitted their RPPR as of October 1, 2024, may need to redo the revised C.5 section, which will be split into C.5.a (Other Products), C.5.b (Resource Sharing) and the new C.5.c (DMS) section under the C. Products section.
The October 1 eRA release will also include:
- A new DMS section on the Just-in-Time screen in eRA Commons for submitting DMS plans (NIH only).
- A new ‘DMS Request’ option in Prior Approval. Signing officials (SOs) must choose the ‘DMS Request’ option when submitting a prior approval request for changes to an approved DMS plan, instead of ‘Other Request.’
See NIH Guide Notice: NOT-OD-24-175, NOT-OD-24-176and NOT-OD-24-123.
7. Announcement of Childcare Costs for Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Programs F99 Recipients
(NOT-OD-25-008)
NIH will begin providing childcare cost support to individuals supported as full-time recipients of Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) programs during the F99 phase of the award.
Applicability
Applicants must be planning an F99/K00 application or have an active NIH Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) that is still in the F99 phase to be eligible to apply.
F99/K00 applicants and F99 award recipients are eligible to receive $3,000 per budget period for costs for childcare provided by a licensed childcare provider. For households where both parents are F99 fellows, each parent is eligible to receive $3,000.
Childcare costs are permitted for dependent children living in the eligible fellow’s home from birth under the age of 13, or children who are disabled and under age 18. Childcare costs do not apply to elder nor non-child dependent care costs.
8. Updating the Definition of Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in NIH-Supported Research
(NOT-OD-24-169) Office of the Director, NIH
The NIH notice announces a revision to the definition of sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations for NIH-supported research. This revision replaces the term "differences of sex development" (DSD) with "variations in sex characteristics" (VSC) to better align with current community and research terminology. The updated definition includes a broad spectrum of identities, attractions, behaviors, and biological traits, aiming to enhance inclusivity in SGM health research. This change, effective immediately, supports NIH's ongoing efforts to address health disparities and foster rigorous research on the health of SGM populations.
9. Retirement of NIHs Automated Just-in-Time Email Notification
(NOT-OD-24-165) National Institutes of Health
This Guide Notice informs the extramural research community that the eRA system-generated email notification announcing the availability to submit Just-in-Time information for an application in eRA Commons will be retired as of October 1, 2024. This change does not impact an applicant’s ability to submit Just-in-Time information upon request from staff at the awarding institute or center.
10. AHRQ Grantees - Upcoming Mandatory Submission of Final Reports in eRAs Grant Closeout (GC) Module for AHRQ Awards that end after October 1, 2024
(NOT-HS-24-020) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
This Guide Notice informs the AHRQ grant recipient community of an upcoming change in Final Reporting Requirements. Beginning October 1, 2024, AHRQ will transition to using eRA’s GC module for closeout-related activities of final reports, a change from prior instructions for all awards that end after October 1, 2024.
Grant recipients will begin submitting their Final Research Performance Progress Report (F-RPPR), which replaces the Final Progress Report for closeout (FPR) and Final Invention Statement (FIS), directly in eRA’s Commons module. This will enable AHRQ to utilize eRA’s GC module for closeout. The final Federal Financial Report (FFR) must still be submitted via the Payment Management System (PMS) as outlined in NOT-HS-21-001. The “Manage FFR” button in the eRA Commons navigates users to PMS. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.344, all final reports (the F-RPPR, FFR, and FIS) are due within 120 days of the project period end date.
NIH has created a new webpage, Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications, where they posted the webinar they conducted June 5th, the associated slide deck, new FAQs, and other materials to prepare training grant applicants for the upcoming changes for applications due on or after January 25th, 2025.
11. New Mandatory Certification for PIs and Senior/Key Persons Applying for DoD Funding
Starting on August 9, 2024, a new certification in Rascal will be required for all principal investigators and senior/key persons submitting proposals to the DoD. The certification takes only a minute or two to complete. Investigators will be certifying that they are not participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs (Malign FTRPs), in compliance with U.S. law. After August 9, DoD proposals may not be finalized in Rascal or submitted to DoD until all senior and key persons have completed the new certification.
The definition of Malign FTRP is complex. If you are not certain whether an engagement meets the definition, please contact research-compliance@columbia.edu for a consultation. More information is also available on the University’s research security webpage.
12. New FAQs and Certification for Non-competing Continuations in Rascal PT for NIH Foreign Subawards
Published new FAQs to provide additional guidance on NIH's Final Updated Policy Guidance for Subaward/Consortium Written Agreements (NOT-OD-23-182). These FAQs are now available on our website at Columbia FAQs on NIH Foreign Subawards
13. NSF & NIH IDP Requirements and Columbia's Fall IDP Workshops
As of the latest NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG 24-1), effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024, the NSF now requires IDPs for each NSF award providing substantial support (at least one person month) to postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. IDPs must be updated annually to reflect educational goals, career exploration, and professional development. A new certification requirement mandates that Annual and Final Reports confirm that each supported postdoctoral scholar and graduate student has an IDP. Similarly, the NIH has strongly encouraged the use of IDPs, as emphasized in their Notice NOT-OD-14-113, and RPPRs must include a report on the use of IDPs.
To support faculty, students and postdoctoral researchers in meeting these requirements, Columbia University offers a comprehensive IDP Program. This program provides essential resources, including worksheets for both mentees and PIs/Faculty Advisers, and educational materials on creating an effective IDP. For any questions about the Columbia IDP Program, please contact postdocaffairs@columbia.edu.
Key Resources:
14. Newly Released NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide
Changes in the Revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), (NSF 19-1)
15. NIH Grants Policy Statement -April 2024
17. Changes Coming to NIH Applications and Peer Review in 2025
18. NIH Career Development (K) Awards
Changes in salary caps for the K02, K08 and K23 Career Development Awards. See NIH for more information.
19. Change in the NIH Continuous Submission Policy for Reviewers with Recent Substantial Service.
21. Inclusion Across Lifespan-Policy
22. NIH’s xTrain
Nearly all NIH institutional research training grants, fellowships, education and career development awards will require the use of the xTrain electronic appointment system. Learn about the xTrain system now.