International Collaboration

While the University of Cincinnati strongly supports international collaboration and values our partners, it is important that everyone at UC understand the current regulatory landscape and the importance of transparency.

 
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Complying with National Institutes of Health Policy

 

May 17, 2021: PIs have asked for more guidance on reporting research collaborators as NIH Other Support. Please review UC’s guidance on when to report collaborators to the NIH (need link), which includes several examples.

May 11, 2021: In response to concerns raised by the academic community, NIH is deferring implementation of its new Other Support and Biosketch formats and the other new requirements imposed in Notice NOT-OD-21-073 which was issued on March 12. The changes will now go into effect on January 25, 2022 instead of May 25, 2021.

You still must disclose all Other Support as described in that Notice and in Notice NOT-OD-19-114 in your just-in-time submissions and RPPRs. And you should contact the COI Office if you have any previously undisclosed other support.

HELPFUL NIH RESOURCES

  1. UC Other Support Questionnaire to Faculty
  2. UC Other Support Checklist
  3. UC RPPR
  4. Collaborative Relationships and Foreign Components
  5. NIH FAQ PAGE: BIOSKETCH
  6. NIH FAQ PAGE: OTHER SUPPORT and FOREIGN COMPONENTS
  7. UC NIH Biosketch Training Video
  8. UC NIH Other Support Training Video

5/4/2021 UPDATE: NIH Issues Announcement on the Implementation of Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page

NIH has issued a follow-up notice to NOT-OD-21-073 on the upcoming changes to the biographical sketch and other support format pages. Per the new announcement NOT-OD-21-110, “NIH expects* applicants and recipients to use the updated biosketch and other support format for applications, Just-in-Time (JIT) Reports, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) as of May 25, 2021. NIH will require* the use of the updated format pages for the previously mentioned submissions for anything on and after January 25, 2022.”
*emphasis added.

In addition, NIH states:

“Please note, applicants and recipients remain responsible for disclosing all research endeavors regardless of the version of the forms used. Therefore, if applicants and recipients choose not to use the updated format pages before they are required, applicants and recipients must still capture all the necessary information.”

As of this most recent Notice, NIH has not specified a limited lookback period for disclosures under Section B of the biographical sketch, “Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors. As we have previously advised, for biographical sketches being submitted with NIH institutional training grants due May 25, if you are pressed for space, we encourage you to prioritize disclosure of Scientific Appointments held during the last three years, both domestic and foreign, including any affiliations with foreign entities or governments.  A scientific appointment can include participation in study sections, membership in a scientific society, board membership, and some consulting appointments.

All positions, however, should be included. This includes employment history or any kind of institutional appointment, whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary).

4/5/2021: NIH Upcoming Changes to the Biographical Sketch and Other Support Format Page Starting May 25, 2021

On March 12, 2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the following information:

In an effort to support strong collaboration between Federal research agencies, NIH has made every effort to align the Biographical Sketch (Biosketch), Other Support format page and Application Form Instructions with the guidance issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy Joint Committee on the Research Environment.

NIH has updated its application forms and instructions to support the need for applicants and recipients to provide full transparency and disclosure of all research activities, foreign and domestic.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OTHER SUPPORT:

Certification statement and signature block added for Program Director/Principal Investigator and Other Senior/Key Personnel to certify the accuracy of the information submitted. Each PD/PI and senior/key personnel must electronically sign their respective Other Support form as a PDF prior to submission.

The updated forms and instructions and updated format pages will be required for use for applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) submitted for due dates on or after May 25, 2021.

During the transition to the new Biosketch format, NIH will not withdraw applications that include the previous Biosketch format. Beginning with applications submitted on or after January 25, 2022, failure to follow the appropriate Biosketch format may cause NIH to withdraw your application from consideration.

Updated Biosketch resources, including FAQs and sample Biosketch format pages can be found here.

Updated Other Support resources, including FAQs and sample Other Support format pages can be found here.

Complete details can be found here.

Please share this with all faculty and staff who may need this information.

If you have any questions, please contact the conflictofinterest@uc.edu.