November 26, 2014

NIH and AHRQ Requiring New Biographical Sketch Format

The National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will require use of a new biosketch format in applications for research grants submitted for due dates on or after January 25, 2015. Until then, applicants can choose to use either the old or new biosketch format.

The November 26, 2014 NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-15-024 states:

“The revised forms and instructions are now available on the SF 424 (R&R) Forms and Applications page. The new format extends the page limit from four to five pages, and allows researchers to describe up to five of their most significant contributions to science, along with the historical background that framed their research. Investigators can outline the central findings of prior work and the influence of those findings on the investigator’s field. Investigators involved in Team Science are provided the opportunity to describe their specific role(s) in the work. Each description can be accompanied by a listing of up to four relevant peer-reviewed publications or other non-publication research products, including audio or video products; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware that are relevant to the described contribution. In addition to the descriptions of specific contributions and documentation, researchers will be allowed to include a link to a full list of their published work as found in a publicly available digital database such as MyBibliography or SciENcv.”

For more information see New Biographical Sketch Format Required for NIH and AHRQ Grant Applications Submitted for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2015 (NOT-OD-15-024) and the NIH Office of Extramural Research blog post, Implementing the Modified NIH Biosketch Format.