NIH Other Support Policy

NIH Other Support Policy

NIH Other Support Policy

NIH requires transparency in research support to ensure integrity and compliance. This site explains what Other Support is, what must be disclosed, how Just-In-Time (JIT) requests work, and the relevant federal regulations.

Navigation:

  • What is Other Support?
  • What to Include
  • Just-In-Time Requests
  • Training Requirements
  • Institutional Enforcement
  • Compliance & Regulations
  • Resources

Section 1: What is Other Support?

Definition: Other Support refers to all resources made available to a researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of monetary value or whether they are based at the institution identified for the current grant. Other Support refers to all resources to which you have access – not just the grants and contracts that support your resources. This includes active and pending support from foreign and domestic sources, financial or in-kind contributions, and consulting agreements involving research.

Purpose:

NIH uses Other Support disclosures to:

  • Prevent scientific, budgetary, or commitment overlap
  • Ensure appropriate allocation of effort
  • Maintain transparency in collaborations

Section 2: What Should Be Listed as Other Support?

Include:

  • Active and pending sponsored projects
  • In-kind contributions (lab space, equipment, supplies, personnel)
  • Consulting agreements involving research
  • Foreign and domestic resources supporting research
  • Travel supported by external entities for research activities with time commitment

Do NOT include:

  • Training awards
  • Prizes
  • Gifts (resources with no expectation of return)

Section 3: Just-In-Time (JIT) Requests

What is JIT?
Just-In-Time is an NIH process that reduces administrative burden by requesting certain elements only if an award is likely.

When:
After peer review, when an application is under consideration for funding.

What’s Requested:

  • Other Support for all senior/key personnel
  • IRB/IACUC approvals
  • Human subjects education certification

How:
Submit through the eRA Commons’ JIT feature - only upon NIH request.

Section 4: Training Requirements

  • Who:  All individuals identified as Senior/Key Personnel on NIH proposals, Just-In-Time submissions, and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs).

  • What: Training must cover:
    - NIH’s definition of Other Support
    - Disclosure obligations for all active and pending research activities and affiliations, regardless of 
       monetary value or location
    - NIH-specific requirements per the NIH Grants Policy Statement (GPS), Section 2.5.1
  • Format: Institutions may use NIH-approved or institution-specific training programs.

  • Institutions must: Maintain a written and enforced policy on Other Support disclosure

Section 5: Compliance & Regulations

Key Policies:

Section 6: Resources