Federal Research Updates

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center's "Federal Research Updates" page provides crucial information on recent policy changes that directly affect researchers and institutions receiving federal funding. This page includes internal messages from the executive director, along with other messages from Sponsored Projects and other leaders from the Center. In addition, below are frequently asked questions and relevent news coverage. If you have any questions or needs more information, please contact Ernie Ballard, senior director of communications and marketing, at ernie.ballard@pbrcu.edu.

Thursday, July 2, 2026

NIH Update from Sponsored Projects [July 2, 2026]

I would like to share additional helpful guidance we have received from NIH regarding publications resulting from NIH-funded projects that include foreign co-authors.

NIH permits prior approval requests for publications with foreign co-authors, provided the funding acknowledgment clearly indicates that the foreign component was not supported by NIH. Based on feedback received from NIH since we started submitting these prior approvals:

A separate prior approval request must be submitted to each NIH Institute for each grant cited in a publication involving a foreign co-author. NIH does not provide blanket approvals for multiple publications or multiple grants.
NIH funding should be acknowledged only when the publication directly results from activities funded by the award and falls within the approved scope of that award.
For Center (U) and Program/Project (P) grants, the award should generally be cited only when the publication received substantial financial support from the grant (e.g., a pilot project award). Use of a core facility alone does not necessarily require citation of the parent grant; instead, acknowledge the contributing core by name when appropriate.
Faculty and postdoctoral researchers should generally list the institution where the work was conducted as their affiliation, even if they have since moved to a foreign institution. This is consistent with ICMJE guidance.
To avoid delays in grant administration, investigators should keep NIH-funded collaborations and authorship as domestic as possible when feasible. Prior approval requests involving foreign collaborators or co-authors are routed by NIH to the U.S. Department of State for review. NIH has indicated that these reviews are currently taking approximately 3–5 months, and while a request is pending, the Institute may be unable to take other actions on the award, including issuing competing and non-competing Notices of Award.

When should a collaborator be listed as a Co-Author as opposed to a Non-Author Contributor?

ICMJE considers those who meet all 4 of the below criteria as being authors for a publication:

Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
Drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content; AND
Final approval of the version to be published; AND
Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Individuals who do not meet all four authorship criteria should be listed as Non-Author Contributors rather than authors. Their specific contributions should be acknowledged, either individually or as part of a group (e.g., Clinical Investigators), with a brief description of their role, such as advising on the study, reviewing the proposal, collecting data, providing patient care, or assisting with manuscript preparation.

When should NIH funding be acknowledged?

NIH awards should be acknowledged only when the work:

Directly arises from activities funded by the award, and
Is within the approved scope of the award.

Additional guidance is available here: Communicating and Acknowledging Federal Funding | Grants & Funding.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, and/or concerns.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Friday, April 17, 2026

Sponsored Projects would like to share some important updates from NIH:

NOT-OD-26-069 Continuation of Modifications to Peer Review Practices

To address the large volume of peer review meetings that were missed during the lapse in appropriations, the following modifications will remain in place for the October 2026 Advisory Council:

The percent of applications discussed in most meetings will be reduced to 30-35%, instead of the usual ~50%.
Applications voted by the committee to be in the middle third will be designated as “competitive but not discussed." These applications will be considered for funding, along with the discussed applications.
Summary statements will be simplified. Summaries will have a sentence describing the degree of consensus in the committee vote, plus bullets listing the main score driving points. Summaries for all applications will contain the written critiques from the 3 assigned reviewers, as is currently the case. Summaries for applications that are discussed will have the overall impact score.

Missing citations in MyNCBI

A huge thank you to Dr. Champagne for sharing the following information she received from NCBI regarding missing citations:

"If you're trying to add citations from PubMed to your My Bibliography collection, you can try using additional search terms to limit your results to those more likely to be yours. For example, you can use the [ad] tag in your search to add an affiliation like:

champagne c AND pennington[ad]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=champagne+c+AND+pennington%5Bad%5D

You could also limit your search to topics that you research like:

champagne c AND diet

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=champagne+c+AND+diet

From the PubMed results page, select the citations you would like to add to your collection using the check-boxes. Then, click ‘Send to' at the top of the page and select ‘My Bibliography’ to add the selected citations to your bibliography."

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Sponsored Projects Analyst or me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Monday, April 5, 2026

Sponsored Projects would like to share some important notices from NIH that were recently released:

NOT-OD-26-064: Update of NIH Late Application Submission Policy and End of Continuous Submission

Effective after the June/July standard due dates (continuous submission allowed through August 10) NIH will end the Continuous Submission Policy. After that time, a PD/PI's participation in a review or advisory group within four (4) calendar weeks before or after the due date will be an acceptable reason for late submission. Participation in an NIH peer review study section or special emphasis panel, or an NIH Board of Scientific Counselors, Program Advisory Committee, or NIH Advisory Board or Council qualify you for late submission. A cover letter detailing the qualifying NIH review service must be submitted along with the late application.

Ther extenuating circumstances encountered by one or more of the PD/PIs listed on the application may still qualify an application for late submission. These circumstances must be documented in a cover letter submitted along with the late application.

As a reminder, under the NIH's late policy, submission of the application must occur within two (2) weeks of the original due date.

Tips Before You Submit: What Are the Components of a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Application and What Should Be Included?

If you are preparing a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) application, understanding what belongs in each required and optional component can help ensure your submission is complete, responsive, and clearly structured for review.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Sponsored Projects Analyst or me.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Monday, March 23, 2026

NIH Updates from Sponsored Projects

Hi All-

Sponsored Projects would like to share some important notices from NIH that were released recently:

NOT-OD-26-046: Updated Elements of an NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan

NIH is updating and simplifying the required elements of Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plans for all NIH-funded research that generates scientific data, effective for applications due on or after May 25, 2026. The new format reduces burden, clarifies expectations, and focuses plans on a small set of essential questions about data sharing, limitations, repositories, and protections for human participants.

Sponsored Projects will be revising our institutional DMSP template accordingly. As a reminder, the template can be found on my.PBRC.edu.

NOT-OD-26-044: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2026

This Notice establishes FY 2026 stipend levels for NRSA undergraduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellows. Training-related expenses, institutional allowances, and tuition/fee caps remain unchanged from the previous year.

NOT-OD-26-047: Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031

NIH is developing its next NIH‑Wide Strategic Plan (FY27–FY31). The plan guides how NIH advances biomedical and behavioral research, builds research capacity, and ensures responsible operations. This Request for Information (RFI) invites stakeholders and the public to comment on the proposed framework.

NIH's Proposed Framework for FY27–FY31

Priority 1: Research Areas

Goal 1: Advance foundational knowledge of human health and disease

Goal 2: Prevent disease and promote health across the lifespan

Goal 3: Advance and optimize interventions, treatments, and cures

Priority 2: Research Capacity

Goal 1: Develop and sustain an interdisciplinary research workforce

Goal 2: Build, improve, and sustain research resources and infrastructure

Priority 3: Research Operations

Goal 1: Enhance scientific stewardship and decision‑making

Goal 2: Foster transparency and accountability to improve public trust in science

NIH requests that Organizations submit a single unified response. If you have any comments on 1) the clarity and relevance of the proposed goals, 2) potential benefits, drawbacks, or challenges, 3) additional areas NIH should consider or 4) opportunities to strengthen research, workforce development, or operations, please share with Sponsored Projects by May 4, 2026. We will work with the institutional administration to compile a unified response.

NOT-OD-26-058: Inviting Input on a Proposed Clinical Trial Specific Application Form

NIH is proposing a single, semi‑structured application form specifically for clinical trials, that would combine the Research Plan and the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials (HS/CT) Information Form. The proposed form is 23 pages total, with structured sections aligned to peer‑review criteria. Please visit the notice, linked above, for greater detail on the new structure.

NIH is inviting comments related to:

Effort required to complete the new form
Completeness (missing or unnecessary elements)
Conciseness and opportunities to streamline
Structure and page limits
Applicability across diverse trial designs
Impacts on investigators, institutions, and peer review
Instructional text needed for clarity

Comments may be submitted individually via the NIH RFI portal (link in notice). Responses may be anonymous. Do not include proprietary or sensitive information. The deadline to submit comments is April 17, 2026.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Thursday, January 29, 2026

NIH Updates from Sponsored Projects

Sponsored Projects would like to share two important notices from NIH that were released in the last few days as well as a revised FAQ related to Common Forms for NIH:

NOT-OD-26-034: Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2026

In a notice released January 28, 2026, NIH announced effective January 11, 2026, the salary limitation for Executive Level II is $228,000.

NOT-OD-26-032: Basic Experimental Studies in Humans (BESH) Will No Longer Be Considered Clinical Trials by the NIH

NIH has announced that, starting May 25, 2026, Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans (BESH) will no longer be classified as clinical trials, lifting requirements such as ClinicalTrials.gov registration and results reporting. NIH now emphasizes:

Clinical trials must aim to directly advance health.
BESH studies aim to understand fundamental biological or behavioral processes without immediate clinical intent.

Updated FAQ 5. Will Grant applications submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2026 be withdrawn if they do not use the Common Forms?

After evaluating the number and types of recent technical inquiries NIH received to both the SciENcv and eRA Service Desks, NIH recognizes the difficulties these issues have had on the community’s ability to comply with the original timeline of January 25, 2026.

To allow for a period of leniency, NIH will provide a warning when the Common Forms are not used but will not withdraw applications that don’t comply with the use of the Common Forms. NIH expects the leniency to be in place through May 2026. NIH will issue a Guide Notice announcing the date when the validation will be changed to an error and the requirement to use the Common Forms will be system-enforced.

Please note that NIH still requires use of the SciENcv Common Forms, and Sponsored Projects will continue to request correct versions of the Common Forms to ensure when the leniency is lifted, our faculty are prepared.

As always, please feel free to reach out to your Sponsored Projects Analyst or me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Thursday, December 4, 2025

NIH Updates from Sponsored Projects

Apologies for a second NIH Update email in a week; however, Sponsored Projects is eager to share two important notices from NIH that were released in the last few days:

NOT-OD-26-018: NIH’s Implementation of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2026

NIH is moving forward with adopting the Common Forms for Biosketches and Other Support. Use of the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement will be required for application due dates and all JIT, RPPR, and Prior Approval submissions on or after January 25, 2026. The February 5^th deadline will be the first deadline for our researchers where the Common Forms will be required; please allow yourself adequate time to complete the information in SciENcv prior to the deadline.

Please read through the notice as it contains important information and details regarding use of the forms, what forms should be used when, and what expectations the NIH has for disclosures.

NIH will enforce the use of the Common Forms via eRA system validations immediately as a warning when the wrong form is used. By February 6, 2026, the warning will be elevated into an error preventing submission of the incorrect or uncertified forms.

NOT-OD-26-019: NIH Administrative Burden Reduction Effort – Removal of Requirements for Letters of Intent and Unsolicited Applications Requesting $500,000 or More in Direct Costs

Effective immediately, NIH will no longer request or accept Letters of Intent, nor will NIH require applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs (excluding consortium F&A costs) in any one budget period to contact the funding Institute or Center (IC) before submission. In line with this change, applicants are no longer required to include a cover letter identifying the Program Official contact which notes that the IC has agreed to accept assignment of the application.

All active funding opportunities containing this requirement are superseded by this Notice and will be updated going forward.

While this notice will allow Pennington Biomedical to submit applications without the traditional budget limits, please keep in mind:

Costs included in a budget should be:

Reasonable - necessary for the conduct of the project and in line with real costs or market rates.
Allowable - permitted by the sponsor.
Allocable - provable to be incurred for the direct benefit of the project.

Detailed budgets (>$250K) must include a detailed justification, which should be thought of as a financial expression of your scope of work.

As always, please reach out to your Sponsored Projects Analyst or me if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

NIH Updates from Sponsored Projects

NOT-OD-26-012: Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 Lapse in Appropriations

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated its plans for restoring normal operations following the recent Federal government shutdown.

Rescheduled October Application Due Dates:

All grants for due dates between October 1 and December 5 will be accepted through December 8 at 5:00pm local time. Please note that there will not be an additional 2-week late window for certain circumstances. Neither advanced permission from NIH nor a cover letter are required in this specific instance.

Loan Repayment Program Due Date:

The Extramural LRP Application Submission Deadline is now December 4.

Rescheduled Peer Review Meetings:

Peer review meetings are being rescheduled to ensure applications that are meant to be considered for the January council will still be considered as originally planned. However, the following modifications are being made to the Peer Review Process for this specific situation:

Only up to 35% of applications will be discussed at peer review meetings, as opposed to the traditional 50%.
Applications voted by the committee to fall in middle third (~36 to 50%) range will be marked as "competitive but not discussed" and may still be considered for funding along with the discussed applications.

Early-Stage Investigator Eligibility:
NIH will automatically adjust the Early Stage Investigator (ESI) status for applicants whose status has changed during the period of delay caused by the shutdown.

Friday, November 21, 2025

NIH Update from Sponsored Projects

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun outlining its plans for restoring normal operations following the recent federal government shutdown. All grant application deadlines scheduled for October and November will be rescheduled, with new dates to be announced. Peer review and council meetings planned between Oct. 1 and Nov. 14 were also canceled and will be reset, with further details forthcoming.

The eRA system remained operational during the shutdown and continued accepting submissions. eRA staff are now addressing a high volume of service desk tickets related to login and password issues, so response times may be slower than usual. Reports submitted during the shutdown will be reviewed, and email reminders and submission confirmations delayed during that period will be sent in the coming weeks. No additional actions are required unless NIH staff reach out directly.

For Pennington Biomedical researchers, the rescheduled deadlines and review meetings may affect timelines for planned submissions, renewals, and progress reports. Investigators preparing applications should monitor NIH Notices for announcements and questions during this transition period to ensure updates are announced. Those with questions should contact their program officer or review cycles can connect with Sponsored Projects for guidance and support.

Information for the NIH Extramural Community During the Lapse of Federal Government Funding
NOT-OD-26-004

The NIH has extended the application deadline for the Extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Applications will now be accepted from September 1, 2025 through December 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST, instead of the original November 20 deadline.

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST).

A reminder that the application, once completed, should be sent to your Sponsored Projects Analyst for routing and approval prior to submission.

Notice of Change in Application Due Date for NIH Extramural Loan Repayment Program
NOT-OD-26-010

The NIH has extended the application deadline for teh Extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Applications will now be accepted from Sept. 1, 2025, through Dec. 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST, instead of the original Nov. 20 deadline.

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST).

A reminder that the applications, once complied, should be sent to your Sponsored Projects Analyst for routing and approval prior to submission.

Compliance Requirements for NIH Extramural Recipients Related to Renegotiated Aims, Objectives, Titles, and Abstracts
NOT-OD-26-007

This notice seeks to remind extramural award recipients that any renegotiated changes in scope—including modifications to aims, objectives, titles, or abstracts—become new binding terms and conditions of award. Recipients must comply with these changes once funds are drawn down, or risk enforcement actions such as termination for non-compliance.

NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution
NOT-OD-26-011

NIH announced that it is operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) through January 30, 2026, maintaining funding at the FY 2025 enacted level. Institutes and Centers may issue non-competing awards at reduced levels until a final appropriation is enacted.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Preparing For the Potential Federal Government Shutdown

Dear Colleagues,

It is becoming increasingly likely that the federal government will shut down after midnight tonight. While the duration and full impact remain uncertain, I want to assure you that our university is well-prepared.

First and foremost, it is essential that we continue to meet all established deadlines for grants, reporting, and applications. Although new federal awards may be delayed and reimbursements for existing awards may take longer than usual, maintaining our timelines will help minimize disruptions and position us well once normal operations resume.

I recognize that this development comes on top of significant recent changes to federal funding and reporting requirements. I know many of you are already managing a great deal of complexity, and this news adds another layer of uncertainty. Please know that your dedication and professionalism do not go unnoticed. We will move through this together, and I remain confident in our ability to adapt and lead with integrity.

Our leadership team is closely monitoring the situation and will share updates as we receive them from federal agencies. We are also working actively with our partners across the federal government to identify research opportunities, complete annual audit and compliance requirements, and stay engaged with our congressional delegation. While some of these conversations may experience delays, remaining connected is critical to advancing our work.

We have successfully navigated previous shutdowns, and I am confident in our ability to do so again. Thank you for your continued focus, flexibility, and commitment during this challenging period.

Sincerely,

Matt Lee
Interim LSU President

Monday, September 29, 2025

Possible Federal Government Shutdown

As you may have seen in the news, Congress is still working toward a funding solution ahead of October 1. While there is a possibility of a temporary federal government shutdown, I want to reassure you that our center is well-prepared, and we plan to continue our work.

At this time:

Our ongoing research and projects will proceed as planned.
We are staying in close communication with federal program officials.
We are proactively managing available funds to ensure operations remain smooth.

While new federal grants may be delayed and reimbursements for existing awards may take longer than usual, it is important that we continue to meet all established deadlines for grants, reporting, and applications.

We have successfully navigated previous shutdowns, and we are confident in our ability to do so again. Our leadership team is closely monitoring the situation, and we will keep you informed as we receive updates from NIH and other agencies. If you have project-specific questions, please contact your AED or supervisor directly.

Thank you for your continued focus and dedication to our mission.

John Kirwan, PhD
Executive Director

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Update from NIH: No-Cost Extension Functionality in eRA (NOT-OD-25-142)

Please review this update from NIH related to the Automatic No Cost Extension functionality in eRA Commons:

This notice provides an update on the guidance issued in NOT-OD-25-110. Effective with the issuance of this Guide Notice, NIH has re-enabled the No-Cost Extension functionality within eRA Commons. Recipients may resume initiating first no-cost extensions in eRA Commons, in accordance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 8.1.1.3. Requests that were previously submitted via the prior approval module will not be reviewed, and recipients will need to initiate the first no cost extension within the Status module by using the Extension action.

If you have any specific questions or concerns, please reach out to your Sponsored Projects Analyst.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Monday, June 3, 2025

Important NIH Notices

Hello All,

I wanted to bring to your attention some of the recent NIH Notices that may or will have direct impacts on Pennington Biomedical Researchers.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-114 announces a short-term extension to the Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) eligibility period. This extension is meant to address delays in grant application submissions, peer review, and award processing that occurred between January 1, 2025, and May 31, 2025.

Key Points:

Automatic Extension: No action is required from investigators to receive this extension.
Eligibility Adjustments: Final submission as an ESI will be October 2025 in the following instances:
Researchers whose last submission date was October/November 2024 get about 12 additional months
Those with a last submission date of February/March 2025 get about 8 additional months
Those with a last submission date of June/July 2025 get about 4 additional months
Additional Time Requests: This extension does not prevent investigators from requesting more time due to qualifying life events (e.g., medical leave, caregiving) under existing NIH policies.

Background:

NIH defines Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) as researchers within 10 years of completing their terminal research degree or postgraduate clinical training who have not previously received a substantial NIH independent research award.

This policy aims to support early-career researchers affected by system-wide disruptions. For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-115 announces a temporary policy exception allowing individuals whose mentored career development (K) awards ended prematurely on or after January 1, 2025, to apply for a new mentored career development award. Normally, recipients of mentored K awards cannot apply for another one.

Key Points:

Who Qualifies?:
Investigators whose mentored K awards ended early due to unforeseen circumstances.
Applicants must still meet all other NIH eligibility requirements.
Application Requirements:
Applicants must provide a justification explaining the need for additional mentored research training.
NIH may approve or reduce requested years of support based on the justification.
Effective Period: This exception is immediate and will remain in effect until July 31, 2026.

This policy aims to support researchers whose career development was disrupted, ensuring they can continue progressing toward research independence. For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-081 provides guidance on protecting human genomic data when developing generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Key Points:

Data Protection Reminder: NIH's Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy prohibits sharing controlled-access genomic data or its derivatives with unauthorized users, including public generative AI tools.
Restrictions on AI Model Sharing:
Researchers cannot share generative AI models trained on human genomic data obtained from NIH-controlled repositories.
NIH temporarily pauses the sharing of such AI models and their parameters until further guidance is issued.
Future NIH Guidance: NIH plans to release additional policies on the responsible use and sharing of generative AI models trained on controlled-access genomic data.

This notice aims to safeguard participant privacy while ensuring responsible AI development in biomedical research. For more details, you can check the full notice here.

The NIH has expired certain funding opportunities to align with the Simplified Review Framework, which was implemented earlier in 2025.

The Simplified Review Framework will be used starting at summer 2025 review meetings.
Some Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) were unintentionally left active, despite plans to expire or reissue them. To reduce confusion and reviewer burden, NIH has now officially expired those NOFOs (see NOT-OD-25-113).
Applications already submitted under those expired NOFOs will still be reviewed using the new framework (see NOT-OD-25-116).
Applicants who planned to apply to an expired NOFO should use an appropriate parent announcement instead.

NIH has issued two Requests for Information (RFI), providing extramural scientists to provide input on developing policies.

NIH Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy
NIH is developing an institute-wide AI strategy that will guide the transition from data-driven analytics to semi-autonomous AI agents, and eventually to fully autonomous biomedical AI systems.
For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH is accepting comments until July 15, 2025.

Responsibly Developing and Sharing Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools Using NIH Controlled Access Data
Purpose: NIH wants feedback on strategies to prevent data leakage while still enabling innovation in AI-driven biomedical research.
For more details, you can check the full notice here.
NIH is accepting comments until July 16, 2025

Please do not hesitate to contact Sponsored Projects with any comments, questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Friday, May 9, 2025

Important NIH Notices

I wanted to bring to your attention some of the recent NIH Notices that will or may have direct impacts on Pennington Biomedical Researchers.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-090 introduces a new Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award, which applies to all NIH grants, cooperative agreements, and other transaction (OT) awards issued on or after April 21, 2025.

Key Points:

New Civil Rights Requirement: Recipients must comply with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.
Restrictions on DEI Programs: NIH-funded programs cannot promote or advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives that violate Federal anti-discrimination laws.
Prohibited Boycotts: Recipients cannot engage in discriminatory prohibited boycotts, specifically targeting Israeli companies or businesses operating in Israel.
By accepting NIH funding, recipients certify compliance with these conditions.
NIH reserves the right to terminate awards and recover funds if recipients violate these terms.

This policy supersedes previous civil rights protections in the NIH Grants Policy Statement and applies only to domestic recipients. Foreign and international organizations are exempt from these requirements. For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-100 updates procedures for childcare costs under the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Awards.

Key Points:

Current Childcare Cost Support: NIH provides $3,000 annually for childcare expenses for all full-time predoctoral and postdoctoral NRSA trainees that request it.
New Allocation Method: Instead of covering all trainees, NIH will now provide childcare funds for 25% of trainee slots at the time of award. If more than 25% of trainees require childcare support, recipients can request an administrative supplement for additional funds.
Unused Funds: Any unused childcare funds cannot be rebudgeted and must be reported as an unobligated balance.
Other aspects of the childcare cost policy remain unchanged.

For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-104 announces a temporary pause on foreign subawards in NIH-funded research. This policy change aims to enhance integrity, accountability, oversight, and national security in biomedical research.

Key Points:

Foreign Subawards Suspended: NIH will not issue awards that include subawards to foreign entities until a new foreign collaboration structure is finalized.
No New Foreign Components: NIH will no longer accept prior approval requests to add foreign subawards to ongoing projects.
Renegotiation of Awards: Institutes and Centers may remove foreign subawards and rebudget funds for domestic use if the work can be performed in the U.S..
Project Termination: If a project is no longer viable without a foreign subaward, NIH will work with recipients to negotiate a bilateral termination, considering participant safety and animal welfare.
The new foreign collaboration structure is expected to be released no later than September 30, 2025.

For more details, you can check the full notice here.

NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-110 announces a temporary suspension of the automatic No-Cost Extension (NCE) functionality in eRA Commons. This change allows NIH staff to review all extension requests to ensure they align with NIH’s mission and priorities.

Key Points:

Automatic NCEs Disabled: The previous system, which allowed automatic extensions, is no longer available.
New Process: All NCE requests must now be submitted manually as prior approval requests in eRA Commons.
Approval Criteria: Only requests that support activities consistent with NIH’s mission will be approved; off-mission activities will be denied.
Required Documentation: Requests must include a progress report, budget justification, and scientific rationale.
Processing Time: NIH review may take weeks to months, so applicants should plan accordingly.

If you need more details, you can check the full notice here.

Please do not hesitate to contact Sponsored Projects with any comments, questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Monday, April 28, 2025

Maintaining Our Focus Amidst National Research and Higher Education Discussions

Dear Team,

I want to keep you informed about recent national conversations surrounding research and higher education and their potential relevance to Pennington Biomedical. As a state-supported research institution deeply rooted in Louisiana, we are attentive to the broader political landscape.

These past weeks have brought discussions at the national level regarding the oversight of accrediting agencies, the legal framework surrounding diversity initiatives, and the fiscal relationships between the federal government and universities. Additionally, there are ongoing conversations about how the value of research and higher education is understood and concerns about retaining scientists within the United States.

Rest assured, your leadership team is actively tracking these developments and carefully assessing any potential implications for Pennington Biomedical. Our primary focus remains steadfast: to advance our mission of promoting healthier lives through rigorous research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine. Our commitment to fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, and impactful research that benefits our communities will continue to guide our decisions.

Attracting and retaining top talent is crucial to our success, and we are dedicated to fostering an environment where exceptional research and learning flourish. We will continue to support your efforts and ensure that Pennington Biomedical remains a center for significant scientific advancement.

As we navigate the evolving national context, clear communication and collaboration will be essential. We will keep you updated on any developments that may directly affect our center and will work together to ensure our continued strength and impact.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment and dedication. Your contributions are vital to our mission, and I am confident that by remaining focused on our core objectives, we will continue to achieve significant advancements in the years to come.

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Staying Up to Date with NIH

With the dynamic nature of NIH policies and processes, Sponsored Projects would like to highlight the NIH’s Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies webpage. This resource serves as a centralized hub for updates on changes to the NIH grants process and the rollout of new initiatives and policies. Current highlights on the page include:

Details regarding NIH’s adoption of the Common Form for biosketches and other support documents
Recent updates to proposal review frameworks for research and fellowship grants
Changes to training grant application forms
Updated instructions for FORMS-I submissions and Reference Letters

First No-Cost Extensions for NIH Grants

As of March 25, 2025, NIH has reinstated the option for institutions to implement a first No-Cost Extension (NCE) automatically through eRA Commons under expanded authority. If you wish to initiate the first NCE for your project, please contact your Sponsored Projects Analyst before the project’s end date to begin the internal approval process. Sponsored Projects will continue to monitor NIH’s NCE policy updates and communicate any significant changes.

If you have any questions on these or other updates, please reach out to grants@pbrc.edu or visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Federal Research Updates webpage.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Monday, April 7, 2025

Update: NIH Indirect Cost Rates

On Friday, a judge issued a nationwide injunction barring the NIH cap on indirect costs, citing the lack of justification and its potential to harm clinical trials and medical innovation. An appeal is expected, so we will continue monitoring this issue closely and keep you informed of any changes.

In the meantime, please visit the Federal Research Updates webpage for updates and FAQs.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Message from the Executive Director: Update

Dear All,

Pennington Biomedical activities remain normal as we prepare for the upcoming Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, closely monitor developments that stem from recent federal actions, and proactively plan for various contingencies. At present Pennington Biomedical is not under a hiring freeze. Our strategic hiring efforts remain ongoing, and our research operations continue to be fully active. We are continuing to receive federal funding, maintain current projects, and are actively submitting new grant proposals.

We remain committed to supporting our research mission, and to keeping you informed. Please visit our federal research update website for ongoing updates and FAQs.

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

NIH Updates

Hello All,

NIH is postponing the May 25, 2025, implementation of the NIH Common Forms Implementation for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support. As the NIH issues future guidance with the new effective date and implementation details, Sponsored Projects will provide updates.

The Lunch and Learned scheduled for this topic on April 3 will also be postponed until a new implementation date is announced.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

NIH Updates

Sponsored Projects would like to share a few updates related to federal grants and contracts:

Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Other Support Coming May, 25, 2025

This year, NIH is adopting the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form effective for application due dates and report submission dates on or after May 25, 2025. Please visit NIH’s Grants & Funding webpage for the most up-to-date information on this change.

Please Save the Date: Sponsored Projects is planning a virtual Lunch and Learn to cover the Common Forms in more detail for April 3, 2025, at 12:00pm. Calendar invite to follow.

Change to NIH First No Cost Extension Process

Previously, the NIH has allowed most awards the expanded authority to enact the first No Cost Extension (NCE) automatically through eRA Commons. In the recent weeks, Sponsored Projects has been made aware that the NIH has removed the expanded authority and access to the NCE form in eRA Commons with the intent of now requiring all NCEs to require prior approval of NIH. As we adapt to this change, we wanted to make you aware of the procedures for requesting the first NCE moving forward, which mimic those steps required when second and third NCEs are requested.

Upon determining that you would like to request an NCE, please contact your Sponsored Projects Analyst who will assist you in preparing the following documents.

A letter signed by Guy LaVergne incorporating the following information:
Detailed explanation of why the project could not be completed by the currently approved end date;
Scientific rationale for continuing the project;
A brief (not to exceed one page) progress report that communicates scientific progress made from submission of the last RPPR to present;
Amount of Direct Costs and Indirect Costs remaining (estimated unobligated balance) in U.S. dollars; and,
Address effort levels for Key Personnel during the requested extension period (Section 8.1.1.3 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement requires a measurable level of effort of key personnel during an extension)
A detailed budget reflecting the proposed plans to use the remaining funds.
A budget justification to match the detailed budget.
Updated certifications and assurances, including IRB (if applicable under the Revised Common Rule) and IACUC approvals

At least 30 days prior to the project period expiration date, these documents must be submitted by Sponsored Projects via email to the Grants Management Specialist at NIH assigned to your grant.

If you should have any questions or concerns about these updates, please feel free to contact Grants@pbrc.edu or your specific Sponsored Projects Analyst.

Thank you,

Gabriela Bonvillain, CRA
Director, Sponsored Projects

Friday, March 7, 2025

Executive Director: NIH Preliminary Injunction

Dear All,

This week, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the NIH cap on indirect costs. This means that current indirect cost rates will remain in place as court proceedings continue in three lawsuits related to the NIH’s proposal.

For Pennington Biomedical, this decision means that although the threat of a budget cut has not gone away, we can for now continue to do business as usual. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these national discussions on scientific research funding.

We will continue to provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, if you’d like to stay informed or review our FAQs, please visit our Federal Research Updates webpage.

Thank you for your dedication to our research mission,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025:

Executive Director: Update on NIH Indirect Cost Rates

Dear All,

Some good news on NIH funding on a Friday afternoon. Today, a U.S. District Judge extended the temporary restraining order on the proposed Indirect Cost policy, with a decision on a permanent ruling pending. While this legal process unfolds, we will continue to operate at the agreed 50% IDC. We will update you with as much information as we can when the situation changes. Your dedication to advancing medical science is invaluable, and we will continue to work strategically to educate the community and leaders on the importance of our research endeavors. Remember to visit https://www.pbrc.edu/news/federalresearch.aspx for any updates, FAQs and news.

Sincerely,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Friday, Feb. 14, 2025:

Message from the Executive Director: Actions related to federal grant conversations

Dear All,

As a follow-up to the message sent earlier today by our Communications Team, I wanted to share the following actions being taken in response to the recent federal grant conversations:

Engagement with Leadership:

Your leadership team and I are working with LSU President William Tate and Chancellors of LSU Health Science Centers (New Orleans & Shreveport) to address budget and research impacts of the NIH 15% indirect cost cap.
Ongoing discussions with President Tate regarding specific implications for Pennington Biomedical.

Education Efforts:

President Tate is in discussions with U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate HELP Committee and former Pennington Biomedical adjunct faculty member.
Leadership has briefed U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on the impact of the cap on Pennington Biomedical and LSU Health Science Centers.
Louisiana’s congressional delegation is aware of the institution’s research achievements and premier status.

Clarifications on Funding:

Reports claiming institutions cannot currently access federal research grant funds do not apply to Pennington Biomedical. We continue to access our NIH research grant funds as scheduled.

We will continue to keep you informed as we learn more information.

Thank you for your dedication,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Recap of federal grant activities

Below is a recap of the recent news related to federal grants, along with a link to a website created to keep you informed with updates, messages, and frequently asked questions.

Freeze on Federal Grants:

NIH has restarted key grant processes, though operations have not fully returned to pre-freeze levels.

Indirect Costs:

On Feb. 7, NIH announced a policy capping indirect cost reimbursements at 15%, down from previous rate of 50% for Pennington.
Lawsuits have resulted in a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a federal judge has scheduled a hearing for February 21 to address the policy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary:

The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services on Feb. 13. He will oversee 13 agencies, including NIH and aims to address chronic diseases obesity and nutrition.

For additional information visit our webpage: https://www.pbrc.edu/news/federalresearch.aspx.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025:

Message from the Executive Director: NIH Indirect Cost Rates Guidance – Ongoing Monitoring and Support

Dear All,

I know the recent updates regarding the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement on Indirect Cost Rates is causing concern and understand the uncertainty that this brings. Since our last update on Saturday, this policy change has been temporarily paused following a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts. Per the federal judge, this order was expanded to apply to all research institutions nationwide. A hearing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21, so we continue to monitor these developments closely.

I want you to know that Pennington’s administration, with the support of our government liaisons and the LSU System, are actively reviewing the potential implications of this policy change. Be assured that your work is valued, and we are committed to supporting you. We are also working closely with our Foundation, donors, supporters, and government officials to ensure that we are prepared for any outcomes.

At this time, continue with normal Center activities while we work to obtain further guidance. I will continue to provide updates when we have more information or details from the NIH or other federal partners. I understand that changes like these are unsettling, but I can assure you that we are doing everything that we can as an institution to find a solution that will bring about the best outcome for you and the institution.

If you have concerns, please reach out to your leadership team.

Thank you for your dedication,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025:

Executive Director: NIH Grants Policy Statement on Indirect Cost Rates

Dear All,

We are closely following yesterday’s Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement on Indirect Cost Rates (NOT-OD-25-068) and have been proactively working on contingencies to offset changes in federal support for research and ensure that Pennington Biomedical remains well-positioned for continued success.

We are committed to navigating these developments strategically and effectively and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

Thanks to your dedication and expertise, our groundbreaking research continues, and the future of our Center remains very bright. Thank you, for all you do!

Best regards,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025:

Message from the Executive Director - RE: HHS and Executive Order Developments

Dear All,

I am writing to follow up on the recent media reports about temporary pauses on federal grants and contracts.

First and foremost, I want to assure you that we have been actively monitoring this situation since last night and will continue to educate state and federal leaders on the essential work being done here at our Center. Temporary funding adjustments are not uncommon, and they usually resolve without significant long-term impact. From our experience working alongside our governmental leaders, we are confident that this will be resolved in a timely manner. Remember that historically, biomedical research has been recognized as a federal priority, and we are optimistic that this will remain the case.

I encourage everyone to focus on what you do best: advancing science, training the next generation of researchers, and pursuing discoveries that improve human health. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your associate executive director or our administrative offices if you have specific concerns or need support.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission, and we will provide updates as we learn more.

Best regards,

John Kirwan
Executive Director

What actions should I take regarding my planned proposal submissions?

Verify Funding Opportunity Status: Ensure that the funding opportunity you are applying for is still open and that the deadlines have not been changed.
Be Mindful of Terminology: Pay attention to the language used in your proposal. Some terms are being flagged by Sponsors. If you have any questions about the terminology used, please contact Sponsored Projects at grants@pbrc.edu.

What actions should I take regarding my currently funded grants?

If you have not been contacted by the Sponsor: Continue your activities and cost charges as usual. Do not make any changes.
If you receive a Freeze or Cancellation Notice from the Sponsor: Immediately stop all study activities and contact Sponsored Projects at grants@pbrc.edu.

Can I respond to a Freeze or Cancellation notice if I receive one?

Sponsored Projects and all PBRC administration will collaborate with you to address any Freeze or Cancellation notices as they are received.

How do I know which Federal Notices and Orders are in effect at any given time?

To obtain the most current status of any notices and orders, and to understand how they may affect your submission or current grants, please contact Sponsored Projects at grants@pbrc.edu.

If I have a question about my specific grant or program, who do I ask?

Please send any questions to Sponsored Projects at grants@pbrc.edu and the team will help address as best they can.

What is the potential impact on Pennington Biomedical, LSU or the state of Louisiana?

James S. Murphy, Deputy Director of Higher Education Policy at Education Reform Now, a non-partisan nonprofit think tank, has compiled a public spreadsheet of estimated impacts by state and instition. He estimates that Louisiana currently received $168M in NIH funding and with an adjusted 15% cap, that funding drops by $28M. To view the data, please visit https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ls7sPd0QUF3Vv6O2gV9M0-hykcI8mwRsSYljuSGtKz0/htmlview#.

What if I get contacted by a reporter asking about the implications of these changes on Pennington Biomedical?

Per the Center’s News Media policy, “all media inquiries must be referred to the Pennington Biomedical communications office.” It’s important that inquiries specific to institutional matters are funneled to the communications office so that, in concert with the executive director or his designee, they can serve as the official spokesperson for the Center. Please refer all calls or emails from reporters to Ernie Ballard at ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu or 225-763-2677.

Where can I get updates from the LSU System?

LSU's Office of Sponsored Programs are posting updates at https://www.lsu.edu/osp/quick_links/federal_research_updates.php and the LSU Office of Research & Economic Development are posting updates at https://lsu.edu/research/federal-funding-updates.php.

What if I have a question not addressed in these frequently asked questions?

Please contact your associate executive director or send your questions to Ernie Ballard, senior director of communications and marketing, at ernie.ballard@pbrc.edu and he will track down responses for you.