Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications
Notice Number:NOT-OD-25-132
Effective Date: September 25, 2025
Related Announcements:NOT-OD-18-197
Purpose
On July 17, 2025, NIH issued notice number NOT-OD-25-132 as part of an effort to ensure fairness and originality in research applications in light of increasing use of artificial intelligence tools (AI) tools, as well as limit the number of annual applications per Principal Investigator to reduce administrative strain on the NIH and maintain a high quality review process.
Summary and Compliance
The new policy states that the NIH will not consider applications that are "either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants.” If the NIH detects the use of AI post-award, the matter will be referred to the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) for review. ORI reviews possible research misconduct in any submission, awarded or not, to the NIH. In addition, NIH will take additional enforcement actions, such as disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.
Furthermore, NIH will only access six (6) new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year (except T activity codes and R13 Conference Grant Applications).
Contact
Please report questions and concerns to your Emory RIO Team at rio@emory.edu