NIH has released NOT-OD-26-018 outlining the implementation of the Common Forms for NIH applications, Just in Time requests, progress reports, and prior approval requests. All NIH submissions on and after January 25th, 2026, will be required to use the Common Forms. NIH will require the use of SciENcv to complete Common Forms (i.e., Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support) and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement to produce digitally certified PDF(s).
ORPA is preparing a Common Form training plan for new SciENcv users. We intend to offer a combination of on-demand training resources and drop-in office hours for individual/small group support. We will provide more training information soon.
NIH has announced that a system validation will be implemented to check for the use of the Common Forms in applications – it will generate an error preventing submission beginning February 6th, 2026.
We strongly encourage departments and faculty to start preparing for the NIH implementation of the Common Forms by:
- becoming familiar with SciENcv
- establishing ORCID IDs and linking them to their eRA Commons profiles. This will be required – please complete as soon as possible.
Further resources are available from NIH at the following links:
- Preview versions of the NIH Common Form instructions can be found in the NIH Forms Directory
- Users can find information on SciENcv in the My NCBI Help of the NCBI Bookshelf
NIH anticipates finalizing the templates in SciENcv for Common Forms, the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement and associated instructions the week of December 15, 2025.
Additionally, attached are the email from September that announced the preview forms, and the slides from the October 28th, 2025 CLASP meeting that cover the NIH Common Forms.
This notice also announces a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP) prohibition and certification requirement. Effective January 25, 2026, individuals who are a current party to a MFTRP are not eligible to serve as a senior/key person on an NIH award. At the time of application, and annually at the time of RPPR submission, each individual identified as a senior/key person must certify to NIH that they are not a party to a MFTRP. This certification will be captured by the Common Forms, and in a separate document for RPPR submission. UR will provide a template for the RPPR submission document. As a reminder, UR maintains a Policy on Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs and Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs that prohibits senior/key persons from participating in MFTRPs.
Please contact your ORPA Research Administrator with any questions.