SPA Update: Changes to NIH Common Forms effective Jan 25, 2026

From:  Bethany DeCarolis, Interim Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
            Kristin Morrissey, Assistant Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
            Laura Wise, Assistant Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
To:       UNMC Research Community 
Date:    January 12th, 2026
Subject: NIH Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current/Pending (Other) Support

Dear Research Community,

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require all Senior/Key Personnel to use Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current/Pending (Other) Support for applications due on or after January 25, 2026. Just in Time (JIT) requests, Progress Reports (RPPRs), and prior approval requests will also need to use the Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current/Pending (Other) Support for submissions on or after January 25, 2026.

Investigators should continue to use the current Biosketch and Other Support forms for proposals due on or before January 24, 2026 and for JITs, RPPRs, and prior approval requests submitted on or before January 24, 2026.


Other Requirements

  • Senior/Key Personnel will need to have an ORICD ID and link the ORCID ID to their era Commons account.
    • Instructions to link ORCID ID to era Commons: The ORCID iD
  • The ORCID ID is a required field in the Common Forms.
  • Investigators will draft and certify the Common Forms in SciENcv.

NIH proposals that do not use the correct Common Forms will receive an error and will not be submitted in the sponsor portal.


Biographical Sketch

The new NIH Common Form Biographical Sketch is comprised of two forms: the Common Form for Biographical Sketch and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. The two forms will print as one document in SciENcv. See the table below for a comparison of the old Biosketch format and the new NIH Common Form for Biographical Sketch.

Old NIH Biosketch Format: 5 page limitNew NIH Common Form Biographical Sketch Format: No page limit
Identifying Information and Education/Training A. Personal Statement Include up to 4 product citationsList relevant active and completed projects from past 3 years B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honors C. Contributions to Science List up to 5 contributions to science with up to 4 citations for each contribution.Common Form for Biographical Sketch Identifying Information, Organization, and Locations Link ORCID ID A. Professional Preparation Education/Training B. Appointments and Positions Must only identify all domestic/foreign positions outside of the primary organization within the past 3 years of the date the applicant submits the proposal to the sponsor. C. Products List up to 5 products related to the proposed project, and 5 other significant products that highlight contribution to science
 NIH Biographical Sketch Supplemental A. Personal Statement May include active and completed projects from the past 3 yearsLimited to 3,500 characters B. Honors List up to 15 entries C. Contributions to Science Describe up to 5 contributionsMay reference up to 5 other significant products from Product sectionDo not provide full citation of productsEach contribution is limited to 2,000 characters
 Certification S/K Personnel certifies to the accuracy of the form, no alignment with a malign foreign talent agency, and completed research security training.

Instructions for the NIH Common Form Biographical Sketch:


Current and Pending (Other) Support

The new NIH Common Form for Current and Pending (Other) Support is similar to the old Other Support document. Changes are outlined in the table below.

Old NIH Other SupportCurrent and Pending (Other) Support Common Form
Person Months: Effort classified as Calendar or Academic/Summer MonthsPerson Months: Effort classified only in Person Months
Major Goals FieldOverall Objectives: The field label changed; limited to 1,500 characters.
Estimated Dollar Value of In-Kind Contribution: Estimate required regardless of the time commitment or dollar value.US Dollar Value of In-Kind Contribution: The field label changed. An In-Kind Contribution should only be reported if estimated at $5,000 or more AND requires a commitment of effort.
Overlap Section: Overlap is summarized at the end of the document.Statement of Potential Overlap: Each entry will have its own Statement of Potential Overlap rather than being summarized at the end.
Supporting Documentation: Append as a PDF following the Other Support FormSupporting Documentation: Not attached to the Other Support document in SciENcv. It will be attached in a separate field when submitting via JIT, RPPR, or PAR modules.

Instructions for the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form


Questions? 

Contact your Sponsored Programs Administration analyst. 


Resources: 

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