The NIH has announced a change to the format of the Biosketch and the content of Other Support. These changes are effective for all applications, RPPRs and JIT with deadlines on or submitted after May 25, 2021.

What does that mean for you?
1. Confirm that your Biosketch includes “all positions and scientific appointments both domestic and foreign, including affiliations with foreign entities or governments. This includes titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received, and whether full-time, part-time, or voluntary (including adjunct, visiting, or honorary).” The new format (no section D) is not required until January 2022 but regardless of which format you use, all appointments and affiliations must be included.

2. Other support must include all financial and in-kind support for any research you perform whether that is performed as part of your UF appointment, as an outside activity, as consulting or as part of any other appointment or access you have. We strongly suggest immediately inventorying all persons, materials, and equipment at any location where you perform research. Special attention should be provided to the following:

• Projects section: consulting, clinical trial steering committees, funding for any laboratory at UF or any other entity where you perform research must be included. COMPLETED support from the past three years must be included. This is in addition to current and pending sponsored projects at UF.
• In-kind section: This new section requires you to list any persons working in any lab for which you have oversight but who are not paid from UF, any high-value materials that are not freely available (e.g., biologics, chemicals, model systems, technology, etc.), and access to specialized equipment must all be included. Note: Core facilities or shared equipment that are made broadly available, should not be included in Other Support, but rather listed under Facilities and Other Resources.
• Supporting Documentation: Copies of contracts for all foreign activities and resources that are reported in Other Support are required. All copies must be provided to DSP. If they are not in English, provide a translated copy as well. Machine (not certified) translations are acceptable.
• Significant changes have been made to the way award amounts (total costs not just direct costs) and effort months (differ between pending, current and completed) are reported. Please read the instructions at: Other Support instructions

We find this simple chart helps when determining where resources in your lab should be included in your NIH application and related materials:

As you submit applications, ensure that only individuals who truly meet the definition of key personnel are included with that role. As you publish, ensure that you properly acknowledge NIH support. Additional clarifications and updates will be coming as policy clarifications and updates allow.

Resources:
UF Guidance on Disclosing Activities to NIH

NIH links to:

• Other Support instructions
• Other Support format
• Biosketch instructions
• Biosketch format

Pursuant to guidance yesterday from UF regarding a transition to normal campus operations. All clinical research encounters being conducted in clinical settings (or non-clinical e.g. CTSI CRC, AMRIS, study team labs, etc.) will continue to follow masking guidance provided by UF Health.

Additionally, Human Subjects Research being conducted in the community setting will also continue to follow UF Health guidelines with respect to masking policies. It is absolutely paramount that we continue to care for the participants we engage.

This guidance is about to be released via OCR and CTSI channels, it was reviewed and approved earlier today by Dr. Nelson and Dr. Sugrue.

For the CTRB specfically, all areas where patient/participant encounters occur are considered MASKS REQUIRED zones. This is specific to IOA, CRC, and any other designated participant encounter areas in the CTRB. Additionally, all common areas that have patient/participant intersections will remain MASKS REQUIRED zones. This applies to the CRC (North entrance), CTRB Entrance to the main lobby (East side), the IOA doors (South entrance), all elevators, as well as the 3rd floor elevator landings as we are temporarily hosting Dr. Byrne’s research team with participant engagement.

Once CTRB occupants are at their respective desks/offices/cubicles they can follow the UF Guidance as shared yesterday (5/17). This guidance for the CTRB is for patient intersection zones only. If you have questions, contact Brian Sevier, Director of the Office of Clinical Research.

UF Health Cancer Center members Carma Bylund, Ph.D., Martina Murphy, M.D., and Merry Jennifer Markham, M.D., FACP, FASCO, received a CTSI COVID-19 Pilot award for the study, “Doctor-Patient Cancer Communications through Telemedicine during COVID-19″ which aimed to improve communication via telemedicine between cancer patients and doctors. The corresponding flyer was developed as a part of this project and includes best communication practices, tips and tech to-dos.

May 21, 2021 – Friends and supporters of Danny’s Dream gathered in Longboat Key Saturday, May 15, for the foundation’s annual event to raise funds for pediatric cancer research at the UF Health Cancer Center. Sue and Chuck DiNatale established the Danny Fund in the department of pediatrics at the College of Medicine in honor of their son, Danny. The fund supports UF researchers who are working to find improved treatments for children diagnosed with cancer.

Joanne Lagmay, M.D., an associate professor of hematology/oncology and pediatrics; Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics; and William Slayton, M.D., chief of the division of pediatric hematology/oncology at the UF College of Medicine, attended the event and spoke to families and friends interested in pediatric cancer research about progress being made at UF Health. READ MORE