Research Announcements

NIH and AHRQ Change Resubmission Policy

Please Post and Circulate

NIH / AHRQ Release Date: April 17, 2014

Distributed: April 21, 2014

————————————————————————

Summary

Effective immediately for all investigators, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will accept a new (A0) application following an unsuccessful resubmission (A1) application.

The subsequent A0 application:

  • Need not demonstrate substantial changes in scientific direction compared to the A1
  • Must not contain a respond to the previous reviewers’ comments (“Introduction”)

Background

In 2009, the NIH changed its policy to allow only one resubmission (A1), with the goal of reducing the time from original submission to funded application. The NIH reports that after this change, the number of applicants funded after only A0 submissions increased. However, investigators also voiced concerns about having to take one’s research in a new direction in order to continue to submit applications.

Note

The following policies remain in effect:

  • The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time
  • An A1 application must be submitted within 37 months of the A0 application
  • New Investigators may submit A1 applications for consecutive review cycles, using the New Investigator resubmission due dates (April 10, August 10, or December 10)

For more information