Announcement:The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released NOT-OD-26-033, announcing an adjusted timeline for implementing the new Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending (Other) Support.
Originally scheduled for January 25, 2026, NIH has extended the leniency period through May 2026.
This extension allows:
Alignment of Common Form certifications with NIH Research Security Training requirements
Additional time for institutions to update internal systems and policies
Greater flexibility for the extramural community to prepare for full compliance
This revised timeline gives investigators and departments more runway to transition to the Common Forms while ensuring certifications, training requirements, and institutional processes are fully aligned before enforcement begins.
What You Can Do Now to Prepare
NIH recommends taking the following steps in advance of May 2026:
1. Get familiar with SciENcv
SciENcv is the required system for generating:
- Biographical Sketch
- Current & Pending (Other) Support
- NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement
Once implemented, SciENcv will be used to produce digitally certified PDFs for application submissions.
2. Obtain and link an ORCID iD
ORCID provides a unique persistent identifier for researchers.
When NIH adopts the new forms:
- All senior/key personnel must have an ORCID iD
- The ORCID iD must be linked to the individual’s eRA Commons Personal Profile
- ORCID will be required in the Persistent Identifier (PI) section of the Common Forms
Additional Resources
- NIH Common Forms Overview and Preparation Guidance
- FAQs on Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current & Pending Support
- eRA Commons Help Documentation for Linking ORCID
Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your DCG Officer.