News
News & Updates: December 9, 2025
Item summaries are included below. Read SR News & Updates (December 9, 2025) for the more details.
NIH Implementation of Common Forms: January 25, 2026
The NIH has announced (NOT-OD-26-018) that for due dates on or after January 25, 2026, applicants must use the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support. This requirement applies to all NIH applications, Just In Time, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs). This announcement comes after an initial postponement (in Spring 2025).
Research Security Training (RST) Requirements
As of October 1, 2025, Northwestern requires verification of Research Security Training for all Federal proposal submissions. This is to streamline internal processes as various agencies implement their specific requirements in recent and coming months. This is an internal, hard-stop requirement, similar to Conflict of Interest (COI) training. Northwestern verifies compliance using the Training Verification Tool, which captures completion of the Northwestern RST module in MyHR.
Final Report Compliance
Sponsored Research has received a significantly higher-than-usual number of overdue notices for NIH Final RPPRs as of December 1. This trend is concerning, and failure to submit required reports in a timely manner can have serious consequences for both individual PIs and the institution as a whole. We recognize that some overdue notices are tied to Final Financial Reports (FFRs), which cannot be submitted until the University receives payment. By contrast, Final RPPRs are not impacted by the federal funding freeze (except for awards subject to termination or appeal). These reports must be submitted on time, and late submissions are not acceptable. Be sure to: monitor the Deliverables in CERES to ensure accuracy, and review the progress reports lists regularly and ensure that all Final RPPRs are submitted promptly.
News Repository
2025
- SR News & Updates (December 9, 2025)
- Winter Recess Deadlines & Office Closures (December 4, 2025)
- Changes to Sponsored Research Structure and Contacts (November 6, 2025)
- Research Administration Operations During Government Shutdown (October 1, 2025)
- Upcoming NIH October 5 Deadline Reminders (September 26, 2025)
- Research Security Training Requirement (September 4, 2025)
- Update: NIH Subcontracts, Continuations, and Interim Guidance Amid Funding Freeze (August 25, 2025)
- Fiscal Year End Procedures and Reminders (August 5, 2025)
- SR News & Updates (July 17, 2025)
- Topics: NOAs from National Institutes of Health, NIH Subaward Update, New NSF Research Security Requirement, Prespending Under Interim Funding Quick Reference, NIH Progress Report Follow Up
- NIH Accelerates Timeline for Public Access to Research Results (June, 18, 2025)
- Update on NIH Outgoing Subaward Stop Work Order (June 17, 2025)
- SR News & Updates (June 16, 2025)
- Topics: New Annual Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program Certification for PIs/co-PIs, Indirect Cost Rate Guidance for Proposals to Federal Sponsors, Advance and At-Risk Accounts Process Changes. PAA Team Updates
- SR News & Updates (May 23, 2025)
- SR News & Updates (May 5, 2025)
- SR News & Updates (April 28, 2025)
- NIH NIH Policies Resource (March 28, 2025)
2024
- Winter Recess Deadlines for Sponsored Research (November 14, 2024)
- SR Resource Updates: Progress Reports, Capsules, SRAs, and MTAs (October 28, 2024)
- NSF Mandatory MFA Use for Research.gov (October 23, 2024)
- Upcoming NIH Common Forms Changes (October 15, 2024)
- FY2025 Fringe Benefit Rates Announced (August 12, 2024)
- Fiscal Year-End Business Processes (July 12, 2024)
- Export Controls and IT Security Ancillary Reviews Procedural Change (March 27, 2024)
- Graduate Student Stipend Rates in Proposals (March 6, 2024)
- NIH Salary Cap Update FY2024 (February 2, 2024)
- NIH eRA Commons ID Requirement Effective January 25, 2024 (January 8, 2024)