NIH Regional Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration

NIH Regional Seminar 2014 FlyerIt’s not too late to register for the NIH Regional Seminar, to be held in Baltimore, MD on June 26-27, 2014.

This 2-day event allows members of the extramural research community to meet and exchange ideas with NIH policy officials and eRA Commons experts, as well as representatives from the HHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), and Office of Research Integrity (ORI), etc.

Dr. Sally Rockey, NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research and author of the NIH blog Rock Talk, will kick-start the seminar by sharing her experiences and perspectives on the role of NIH in encouraging and supporting biomedical and behavioral research across the globe.

Then, attendees can choose from a variety of special interest tracks and sessions, intended to demystify the application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight current areas of special interest or concern.

Check out Sally’s blog post at Rock Talk or register now for the 2014 NIH Regional Seminar!

Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for Non-SNAP Progress Reports

The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) is scheduled to be available for all type 5 non-SNAP (Stream-lined Non-competing Award Process) progress reports on April 25, 2014.

The RPPR is a standardized format for reporting performance progress on Federally-funded research projects. It is the result from an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Working Group under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal research awards. By standardizing the reporting process, the RPPR reduces administrative costs and makes it easier to compare the outputs and outcomes of research programs government-wide.

Currently, the RPPR is required for all SNAP, fellowship and multi-year funded awards. See NOT-OD-14-064 for the official announcement of its availability for non-SNAP progress reports. The NIH anticipates requiring all grantee institutions to use the RPPR for non-SNAP progress reports beginning on October 17, 2014.

Stand Up for Science Competition – 2013 Winners Announced!

The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) recently announced the winners of its 2nd annual Stand Up for Science competition. Take a look at the winning video, which took home the grand prize of $5,000:

The 2013 Stand Up for Science competition asked contestants to submit a 1-4 minute video, demonstrating how federal funds are used to support scientific breakthroughs. Continue reading