[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 5, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37531-37532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14744]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Policy.

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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is providing guidance 
to researchers on the appropriate usage of artificial intelligence (AI) 
to maintain the fairness and originality of NIH's research application 
process. NIH is also instituting a new policy limiting the number of 
applications that NIH will consider per principal investigator per 
calendar year.

DATES: This policy is effective for applications submitted to the 
September 25, 2025, receipt date and beyond.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information about this policy 
notice may be directed to Dr. Lyric Jorgenson, NIH Office of Science 
Policy, at (301) 496-6837 or ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is 
providing guidance to researchers on the appropriate usage of 
artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain the fairness and originality 
ofNIH's research application process. NIH is also instituting a new 
policy limiting the number of applications that NIH will consider per 
Principal Investigator per calendar year. NIH has recently observed 
instances of Principal Investigators submitting large numbers of 
applications, some of which may have been generated with AI tools.
    While AI may be a helpful tool in reducing the burden of preparing 
applications, the rapid submission of large numbers of research 
applications from a single Principal Investigator may unfairly strain 
NIH's application review processes. The percentage of applications from 
Principal Investigators submitting an average of more than six 
applications per year is relatively low; however, there is evidence 
that the use of AI tools has enabled Principal Investigators to submit 
more than 40 distinct applications in a single application submission 
round.
    NIH will continue to employ the latest technology in detection of 
AI-generated content to identify AI generated applications, but it is 
imperative that all NIH research applications are consistent with the 
NIH Grants Policy Statement (GPS) Section 2.l.2's (see: https:l/
grants.nih.govlgrants/policylnihgps/html5/section_2/2.1.2_recipient 
staffhtm) expectation that institutions and affiliated research teams 
propose original ideas for funding. AI tools may be appropriate to 
assist in application preparation for limited aspects or in specific 
circumstances, but researchers should be aware that using AI comes with 
its own risks. AI use may result in plagiarism, fabricated citations, 
or other kinds of research misconduct. As a reminder, NIH oversees 
research misconduct investigations and acts on non-compliance (see: 
https:/lgrants.nih.govlgrants/policy/nihgps/html5/section_4/
4.1.27_research misconduct.htm).

Policy

    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 detection of AI is identified 
post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research 
Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct while 
simultaneously taking enforcement actions (see: https:l/www.ecfr.gov/currentltitle-2/subtitle-Alchapter-II/part-200/subpart-Dlsubiect-group-ECFR86b76dde0ele9dc/section-200.339) including but not limited to 
disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part 
suspending the grant, and possible termination.

[[Page 37532]]

    NIH will only accept six 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. This policy applies to all activity codes except T activity codes 
and R13 Conference Grant Applications. Based on recent data, this limit 
wi11 affect a relatively small number of Principal Investigators while 
enabling the NIH to maintain consistently high-quality grant 
application review and appropriately steward taxpayer dollars.

    Dated: July 30, 2025.
Matthew J. Memoli,
Principal Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2025-14744 Filed 8-4-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P