Q1) Which personnel listed in my NIH proposal am I REQUIRED to include biographical sketches for?
A1) Biographical Sketches are REQUIRED for all KEY PERSONNEL, including CONSULTANTS
Q2) Which personnel listed in my NIH proposal will I be REQUIRED to provide OTHER SUPPORT for when it is requested by NIH?
A2) Active and Pending OTHER SUPPORT is Required for all KEY PERSONNEL, excluding CONSULTANTS
Q3) What do all of those Activity Codes (e.g., R01, U01) and Organization Codes (e.g., CA, HL) in an NIH Grant number mean?
A3) All NIH Activity and Organization Codes, as well as definitions of many NIH-specific terms can be found in a document entitled Activity Codes, Organization Codes, and Definitions Used in Extramural Programs (IMPAC). This 64-page document is available at <http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/ac.pdf>.
IMPORTANT NIH DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS:
Co-Investigator: A co-investigator (collaborator) is an individual involved with the principal investigator in the scientific development or execution of the project. These individuals would typically devote a specific percent of effort to the project and would be identified as key personnel. The individual(s) may be employed by, or affiliated with, either the grantee organization or an organization participating in the project under a consortium or contractual agreement. [Source: PHS 398 Instructions <http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/section_3.html#a_definitions>]
Consultant: An individual hired to give professional advice or services for a fee, normally not as an employee of the hiring party. In unusual situations, a person may be both a consultant and an employee of the same party, receiving compensation for some services as a consultant and for other work as a salaried employee. In order to prevent apparent or actual conflicts of interest, grantees and consultants must establish written guidelines indicating the conditions of payment of consulting fees. Consultants may also include firms that provide paid professional advice or services. [Source: PHS 398 Instructions <http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/section_3.html#a_definitions>]
Key Personnel: Key Personnel are defined as individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project in a substantive way, whether or not salaries are requested. (For a more detailed discussion of Key Personnel, contained in the PHS 398 Form instructions, click here to view). [NOTE: All changes in the status of Key Personnel REQUIRE NIH prior approval (such changes include withdrawal from the project; absence for any continuous period of 3 months or more; reduction of time devoted to project by 25 percent or more from level in the approved application)]
Other Support: Other Support includes all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual's research endeavors, including but not limited to research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and/or institutional awards. Training awards, prizes, or gifts are not included. [Source: PHS 398 Instructions <http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/section_3.html#a_definitions>]
Principal Investigator, Program Director, or Project Director: The one individual designated by the applicant organization to direct the project or program to be supported by the grant. The principal investigator is responsible and accountable to applicant organization officials for the proper conduct of the project or program. [Source: PHS 398 Instructions <http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/section_3.html#a_definitions>]
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