December 2, 2024

NIH FORMS-I Guidance and Updates for SAGE Grant Runner

NIH’s next set of application packages, FORMS-I, is effective for all applications due on or after January 25th, 2025. Per NIH, the new FORMS-I application packages are currently being posted, and they expect to complete the process by December 2024, with all application forms packages posted 30 calendar days or more prior to receipt dates.

In SAGE, Grant Runner is expected to be updated for Forms-I by mid-December. With the December SAGE release, the NIH error checking and PDF generation in Grant Runner will be restored as well.

NIH FORMS-I Key Dates & Availability

Applicants must use FORMS-I for due dates on or after January 25, 2025, and must use FORMS-H for due dates on or before January 24, 2025.

For a transition period, both FORMS-H and FORMS-I will be active simultaneously. Applicants must choose the appropriate application package for their due date.

NIH will withdraw and remove applications from funding considerations if applicants submit using an incorrect forms package.

Review Updated Application Forms and Instructions (FORMS-I) for more information from NIH.

FORMS-I Key Changes

• Training Grant Applications
  • PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan: A separate attachment for “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” in the Training Program section has been added.
  • Updates to Institutional Training data tables
  • See: NIH Updates Institutional Training Grant Applications
• Fellowship Applications & Review Process
  • PHS Fellowship Supplemental Form: To improve the peer review process, various sections and fields have been renamed, replaced, or removed. Instructional text has been updated.
  • See: Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process
• PHS Assignment Request Form: Instructional text has been updated and some fields reordered.

Review High-level Summary of Form Changes in FORMS-I Application Packages for more details.

SAGE Grant Runner Updates

The SAGE team aims to release FORMS-I updates to Grant Runner in mid-December. Stay tuned for a follow-up announcement with more information on a release date as it becomes available. This Grant Runner release will also fix the connection between the SAGE Grant Runner and NIH systems to restore the error-checker and PDF generator functionality.

NIH Resources

NIH Updated Application Forms and Instructions (FORMS-I)
NIH High-level Summary of Form Changes for FORMS-I Application Packages
NIH Do I Have the Right Form Version For My Application?
NIH Application Forms FAQs
NOT-OD-25-026: FORMS-I
NIH Preparing for 2025 Application and Review Changes – Tips and Resources