News
Upcoming NIH October 5 Deadline Reminders
September 24, 2025
As we approach the October 5 NIH R01 deadline, Sponsored Research (SR) anticipates a significant increase in proposal volume. To ensure timely submission, all complete, ready-to-submit proposals must be routed to SR via CERES at least five (5) business days before the sponsor deadline. All proposals sent to Sponsored Research are reviewed in a first in, first out manner. Note: October 5 falls on a Sunday, so the sponsor deadline moves to Monday, October 6. The internal SR deadline is Monday, September 29.
Submission Best Practices
To minimize send-backs and expedite review:
- Include all required documents: solicitation (even for R01s), internal budget, budget justification, and proposal/SOW, etc. For (incoming) subawards, communication from the pass-through entity is also needed regarding any budget limits or required documents.
- Justify fringe rates properly: Proposed fringe rates may be used if the justification clearly states these are “proposed rates” and not DHHS-approved rates.
- Ensure ancillary reviews are complete: F&A and PI eligibility waivers as needed and any sponsor-specific requirements.
- Proofread carefully—SR cannot accommodate corrections unrelated to compliance. This includes changes to project titles after submission.
- Use Northwestern LOI templates to streamline review and signature.
Proposal Status Checks
During peak periods, SR is unable to respond to individual status inquiries. Please use the CERES Check Status Job Aid in the Knowledge Base or the Tableau tab in the Funding Proposal record to track progress.
Research Security Training Requirement
Starting October 1, all PIs and senior/key personnel submitting to or working on federal awards must complete Research Security Training. This is an internal, hard-stop requirement, similar to COI. Use the Training Verification Tool to check if covered individuals have completed training. (VPN is required to access the tool.)
Research Security Resources
- Northwestern-specific training course to meet the training requirement
- Office for Research’s website on Research Security