Weekly Research Updates & Guidance

Please check this page regularly for guidance and research updates.

Last updated: 4/7/26

NIH General Announcements and Notices of Special Interest

Implementation of Changes for Basic Experimental Studies with Humans

(NOT-OD-26-067)

National Institute of Health

This Notice announces that NIH will no longer characterize BESH as clinical trials. This change is effective for competing applications with due dates on or after May 25, 2026

Update of NIH Late Application Submission Policy and End of Continuous Submission

(NOT-OD-26-064)

National Institutes of Health

This Notice ends Continuous Submission and modifies reasons considered for late submission. It also prohibits late applications for Fellowships, Small Business, and International Collaborations.

Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. March 2026) for Fiscal Year 2026

(NOT-OD-26-057)

National Institute of Health

National Institutes of Health has published updates as of March 17, 2026. Changes made to the NIH GPS can be found on the NIH Grants Policy website.

Prior Approval Requirement for Changes to Domestic Subawards

(NOT-OD-26-062)

National Institutes of Health

Effective June 1, 2026, prime award recipients will be required to obtain NIH approval for all additional domestic subawards that were not included in the submitted and approve application. Requests must be submitted via eRA Commons Prior Approval Module using the “Other Request” type. The NIH has defined an intervention as “A manipulation of the subject or subject’s environment for the purpose of modifying one or more health-related biomedical or behavioral processes and/or endpoints.”

Harmonizing the NIH Definition of “Intervention” with the Common Rule

(NOT-OD-26-063)

National Institutes of Health

This Notice provides the definition of “intervention” as it pertains to the Common Rule when research involves human subjects.

NSF – National Science Foundation General Announcements

NSF EPSCoR Research Fellows Office Hours

Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The U.S National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) is hosting office hours to share information about the NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF). This opportunity (NSF 24-528) provides awards to build research capacity in institutions and transform the career trajectories of early- and mid-career investigators and to further develop their individual research potential through extended collaborative visits to the nation's premier private, governmental or academic institutions. This solicitation offers two tracks — NSF and NASA. The aim of these sessions is to inform the community about this opportunity. Please join one of the following office hours and contact program officers (EPSCoR-ERF@nsf.gov) for any questions you may have.

NSF Introductory Webinar to FINDERS FOUNDRY

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program supports collaboration among K-12 educators, technologists, and researchers to develop innovative solutions to persistent challenges in learning and workforce development. These challenges are identified by K-12 students, families, and educators. The program aims to create and scale evidence-based practices, tools, and technologies that improve learning outcomes and prepare students for a digital, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven future.

During this webinar, NSF staff will introduce the program and explain its goals, eligibility and the application process. The session will include a formal presentation followed by a moderated Q&A

Department of Defense (DOD)

Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) pre-announcement for Department of War (DOW) program managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

FY26 Pre-announcement released:

The Combat Readiness—Medical Research Program (CRRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunity:

Translational Research Award

To view the CRRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/crrppreann.

Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) pre-announcement for Department of War (DOW) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

FY26 Pre-announcements released:

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Idea Development Award

Established investigators, New Investigators – Early Stage, and New Investigators – Transitioning are eligible to serve as principal investigator on applications to this funding opportunity

Clinical Translation Research Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, are eligible to serve as principal investigator on applications to this funding opportunity
Partnering Principal Investigator Option: The program anticipates offering an early-career or established interdisciplinary PI partnership option to enhance research capacity within the DMD field. This option requires partnership between an independent investigator at any academic level with an early-career investigator or an established interdisciplinary investigator from an area other than muscular dystrophy. Each PI will receive a separate award, even if they are located within the same organization.

To view the DMDRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/dmdrppreann

The Parkinson’s Research Program released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Early Investigator Research Award

Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows or independent investigators within 10 years of advanced degree or residency training completion, or equivalent, are eligible to serve as principal investigators on applications to this funding opportunity

Investigator-Initiated Research Award

Independent investigators at all academic levels, or equivalent, are eligible to serve as principal investigators on applications to this funding opportunity

To view the PRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/prppreann

Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) pre-announcements for Department of War (DOW) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

FY26 Pre-announcements released:

The Alzheimer’s Research Program (AZRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Transforming Care Award
Transforming Diagnosis Award
Transforming Research Award

To view the AZRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/azrppreann

The Autism Research Program (ARP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Career Development Award
Clinical Trial Research Award
Idea Development Award

To view the ARP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/arppreann

The Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Clinical Trial Award
Discovery Award
Impact Award
Lifestyle and Applied Health Research Award
Platform Clinical Translation Award
Research Advancement Award
Technology/Therapeutic Development Award

All PRMRP applications must address one or more congressionally mandated FY26 PRMRP Topic Areas: https://cdmrp.health.mil/prmrp/topicareas/topicareas26.

The Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program (TBIPHRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Clinical Trial Award
Health Services Research Award
Translational Research Award

To view the TBIPHRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/tbiphrppreann

Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) pre-announcements for Department of War (DOW) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

FY26 Pre-announcements released:

The Epilepsy Research Program (ERP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Leadership Award
Virtual Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Research Center – Faulty Award
Leveraging Research Award
Idea Development Award
Research Partnership Award

To view the pre-announcement visit: https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/erppreann

Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) pre-announcements for Department of War (DOW) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

FY26 Pre-announcements released:

The Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Idea Development Award
Translational Research Award
Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award

To view the LCRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/lcrppreann

The Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Applied Award
Clinical Research Award

o Funding Level 1: Supports Clinical Research

o Funding Level 2: Supports Clinical Trials

To view the ORP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/orppreann

The Vision Research Program (VRP) released a pre-announcement for the following funding opportunities:

Clinical Trial Award
Investigator-Initiated Research Award
Translational Research Award
Mentored Clinical Research Award

To view the VRP pre-announcement visit https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2026/vrppreann

Weekly Research Updates & Guidance