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NIH INFORMED

Issue No. 8, 2020
Insights from NIH notices & reviewer comments, so you can focus.
 
AUGUST TIP
 

Have you considered describing your team using a table format?

It will save space and be easier to quickly skim and grasp key points


I don’t know about you, but when I read a stack of submissions, I like a scorecard to keep track of the major players involved, even on relatively small submissions. It makes it easy to flip back and figure out who is doing what, what their role is on the project (PI, Co-I), and where they reside. Plus it saves space– you can drop the font size, and use phrases instead of full sentences. When writing a grant application, I put that info in a table. I usually position it somewhere near the beginning of the Approach section. It would look something like this (I can’t use real examples due to confidentiality issues, this was my kids’ idea):
 
 
TABLE 1: TEAM TABLE. The team has collaborated for 3 yrs on numerous projects (2, 7-9). WHSP- The Wall Health Science Program; KLU- King’s Landing University;
NAME, AFFILIATION ROLE EXPERTISE FOR THIS PROJECT
J. Snow, MD WHSP
 		 PI
 		 Human behavior investigator since 1998; Directs WHSP’s wolf breeding program; Youngest director ever appointed; Will oversee Aim 1 studies.
 
T. Lannister MD, PhD, JD
 		 Co-I
 		 Directs KLU, will oversee all work within KLU; Expertise in pyromancy (see Protection of Human Subjects section); will oversee all pyromancy studies in Aim 2a.
 
D. Targaryen PhD
 		 Consultant
 		 Head of International Dragon Transgenic Facility (IDTF); will oversee dragon transgenic animals used in the study and all dragon in vivo studies in Aim 2b; Director of NIH International Center for Excellence in Dragon Research (I-CEDR); has won numerous awards for her pioneering work in the field.
 
AUGUST NEWS
  1. NIH Inclusion reporting and Forms-F
  2. COVID-19 resources for NIH applicants and recipients
  3. New vertebrate animals section training module
  4. Emerging data regarding COVID-19's effect on non-COVID research and the research workforce
  5. "Rolling" submission dates
  6. Leveraging standardized clinical data to advance discovery
  7. The latest Roundup of some NIH-sponsored COVID-19 research
1. NIH Inclusion reporting and Forms-F
In keeping with NIH’s Inclusion Across the Lifespan (IAL) for participants in research, funding recipients are now required to submit participant data on sex/gender, race, ethnicity, and age at enrollment in progress reports. This applies to applications submitted January 25, 2019 and later. Full details, including a video on submitting the data and a data template can be found here.

Additionally, NIH will host a virtual workshop on September. 2  regarding the IAL policy and evidence-based practical advice for meeting the new policy. The workshop will focus on pediatric and geriatric populations, but will also include discussions regarding racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and others. Experts will also discuss study development with topics including inclusion/exclusion criteria, study design, recruitment, enrollment, retention, and data analysis. Register here by September. 1.
2. COVID-19 Resources for NIH applicants and recipients
NIH continues adding resources to its COVID-19 information page for NIH applicants and funding recipients. The page now contains information regarding the peer review process e.g., preliminary data are allowed as post-submission material and some IC-reviewed FOAs may extend their deadlines. It also contains guidance for those preparing applications for Fall 2020, e.g. contingency plans will not be considered in peer review but, if needed, COVID-19 contingency plans will be requested and carefully considered by NIH staff before funding. A link to the information page and recent additions is available here.
3. New vertebrate animals section training module
NIH released a new online learning module regarding the vertebrate animals section of a grant application. The interactive module helps applicants understand the requirements for the grant section; provides a checklist to ensure that the correct items are included in the application; and details the responsibilities of applicants, reviewers, and NIH staff. The module takes about 30 minutes to complete and can be accessed here.
4. Emerging data regarding COVID-19's effect on non-COVID research and the research workforce
Several sources began publishing data regarding COVID-19’s effect on research enterprises. The Congressional Research Service’s report described laboratory closures, loss of revenue, and disrupted personnel processes among the consequences. Other surveys found substantial reductions in productivity overall, but more so in women with young children. Additionally, surveys showed fewer research hours, and increased time spent on data analysis, manuscript preparation, and grant application preparation. NIH released preliminary data regarding COVID-19’s effects on grant application flow following the June deadlines. More data will be shared in the next weeks and months. NIH will also track grant-related data from the upcoming October deadline. The initial data can be viewed here.
5. "Rolling" submission dates
While most NIH funding opportunities have specific due dates, NIH recently posted a growing number with “rolling” submission dates. This means that applications can be submitted at any time after the earliest possible submission date and the closing date. Rolling submission dates are most common with emergency or urgent funding opportunities, such as those related to COVID-19. Full details are available here.
6. Leveraging standardized clinical data to advance discovery
Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act accelerated other measures for increased use of health care data standards that can benefit research.  Among them, increased access to and interoperability of electronic health information for clinical care. #NIH and other agencies are promoting development of data standards and interoperability. Details of various initiatives toward this end and how researchers can collaborate and benefit are detailed here.
7. Latest roundup of NIH-sponsored COVID-19 research
More research developments are emerging as scientists continue the pursuit for a COVID-19 treatment. Here is a sampling of some recent NIH-sponsored COVID-19 research. For more reading on NIH resources and news releases related to COVID 19,  click here.
Margaret Bouvier received her Ph.D. in 1995 in Biomedical Sciences from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. After an NINDS post-doctoral fellowship, she worked as a staff writer for current NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins in the Office of Press, Policy, and Communications for the Human Genome Project and NHGRI. Since 2007, Meg has specialized in editing and advising on NIH submission, and began offering virtual courses in 2015. She currently supports 4 of the top 5-ranked hospitals; 4 of the top 6 cancer hospitals; and 2 of the top 3-ranked medical schools for research in the country. She has helped clients land over $320 million in federal funding. Meg Bouvier Medical Writing, LLC is a woman-owned, small business.

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