Weekly Research Updates & Guidance
Please check this page regularly for guidance and research updates.
Last updated: 1/9/26
NIH General Announcements and Notices of Special Interest
(NOT-OD-26-025)
National Institutes of HealthThe purpose of this notice is to remind applicants, both sponsored programs officials as well as investigators, that to be fair to all concerned the NIH will consistently apply standards for application completeness and for compliance with all submission requirements and NIH policies. This longstanding NIH policy is outlined in NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.3.2, Eligibility along with 2.4.4, Disposition of Applications, consistent with 2 CFR 200.204 and 200.205. As a reminder, NIH may withdraw any application identified during the receipt, referral, and prior to peer review process that is incomplete or noncompliant with instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and relevant NIH Guide Notices.
Notice of Announcement of NIH Oligonucleotide Toxicity (OligoTox) Open Data Challenge Competition
(NOT-TR-26-006)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
This Notice is being provided to inform potential solvers of the opportunity to compete in the NIH Oligonucleotide Toxicity (OligoTox) Open Data Challenge prize competition (https://ncats.nih.gov/funding/challenges).
NSF – National Science Foundation General Announcements
Growing Convergence Research Lecture Series
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Abstract:
How might researchers charged with leading convergence research better plan, design, implement, and evaluate the integrative processes and products of their research? In this talk, Dr. Shalini Misra will: (1) present an analytical framework to examine knowledge integration processes and products; (2) describe how her team applied the framework to assess knowledge integration processes and products during the first two years of a five-year National Science Foundation Growing Convergence Research (GCR) project using a self-evaluation approach; and (3) consider the efficacy of the various knowledge integration approaches used in the GCR project and share empirically derived recommendations for designing, implementing, and evaluating convergence research.
Department of Defense (DOD)
BrightFocus Foundation
American Heart Association
Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships in Brain Health
Proposal deadline: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Jointly funded by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, with funds from a generous bequest by Dr. Ralph L. Sacco, this program enables early career trainees to undertake a mentored two-year research project targeting various aspects of brain health. The 2025 awards are for MD or PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) applicants in postdoctoral fellowship training with a focus on brain health as of July 1, 2025. Projects for this cycle must focus on prevention.
PCORI – Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
PCORI Advisory Panels: Applications Now Open
PCORI is inviting patients, caregivers, researchers and the broader healthcare community to apply to join one of its four advisory panels:
- Clinical Trials Advisory Panel
- Patient Engagement Advisory Panel
- Rare Disease Advisory Panel
- Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research (CER) Advisory Panel
PCORI Advisory Panel Applicant Town Hall
Date:
- Feb. 9, 2026, 2 - 3 pm (ET)
Location:
- Online
This virtual applicant town hall will provide an opportunity to learn more about PCORI's Advisory Panels and the application process. PCORI staff will provide an overview of PCORI, how its advisory panels guide its work, an overview of each panel, information about the application and nomination process, as well as expectations for service, if selected. Immediately following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Board of Governors Meeting: February 10, 2026
Date:
- Feb. 10, 2026, 1 - 3 pm (ET)
Location:
- Online
All PCORI Board meetings are open to the public. This meeting will be held via teleconference/webinar with no public comment period.
