NIH Updates Grant Application and Review Process to Broaden Applicant Pool
Published April 29, 2024
By AACOM Government Relations
Advocacy Federal Policy OME Advocate Osteopathic Recognition Osteopathic Representation Osteopathic Research
- On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that the application and review process for fellowship grants will be updated to reduce the burden on candidates and ensure that applicants from smaller schools, early-career mentors and qualified students with less-conventional academic backgrounds are fairly evaluated.
- An evaluation of the application and review process concluded that too much weight was given to sponsor-seniority and the reputation of the sponsor and sponsoring institution, in addition to undergraduate grades. These efforts help reduce NIH research grant funding inequalities.
- According to NIH Director Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, “NIH is potentially leaving out promising scientists for training opportunities due to a process that too heavily favors elite institutions and senior sponsors who are well known. This has led to an overly narrow emphasis on traditional markers of early academic success. These changes are aimed at improving the path for talented scientists who might not be recognized under the current system.”
- AACOM continues to work to ensure NIH funding and representation is reflective of the OME workforce. AACOM submitted comments to the NIH’s request for information on this policy last spring and encouraged the NIH to mitigate bias in the grant application and review process. Last fall, AACOM submitted similar comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s request for information on NIH reform.
- The changes to the fellowship grant application and review process will be effective for fellowship applications due on or after January 25, 2025. Learn more.