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Writedit

@mlkwritedit.bsky.social
690 followers 139 following 108 posts

40 years of NIH grant experience … live jazz & birding keep me sane

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
This is an example of a scientific association censoring its members, real scientists, for defending attacks on science. The police were called to remove the scientists for handing out hard copies of this editorial. diabetesjournals.org/care/article...
diabetesjournals.org
Misguided Brushes of a Pen Continue to Dismantle and Destroy Biomedical Research in the United States: We Can No Longer Afford Complacency and Fear. We Must All Act Now!
The opinions expressed in this editorial are the personal views of the authors (S.E. Kahn, C.A.M. Anderson, J.B. Buse, and E. Selvin) and do not represent
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Does 39% refer to # of awards with MYF or $$ allocated to MYF? The FY26 appropriations bill uses amount, not #. When I checked RePORTER for MYF last summer-fall, I felt many were R21 awards, which would help ICs get to 50% MYF awards (#) at ~low $ amount, but I haven't seen FY25 total for MYF$s
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
DoD & Homeland Security are part of this minibus - he can't cherry pick what to fund.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
True, but hoping they are not completely gone …. holding out hope for the Senate NIH language to prevail in the Defense-LHHS-Transportation-HUD minibus appropriations bill being cobbled together
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Realized I needed to take down the old paylines to avoid giving any false hope
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
#CuresCantWait
FASEB text slide urging readers to call Congress in support of at least $42.7B in NIH funding - Legislative Action Center link https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/FASEB/Campaigns/131470/Respond
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Indirect costs and scientific impact at NIMH: “Greater indirect rate was associated with modest but statistically significantly greater number of publications … and total citations … Each 10% increase in indirect rate was associated with a 20% increase in odds of patent filing”
academic.oup.com
Indirect costs and scientific impact at NIMH
Abstract. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards additional funds for extramural research to support research infrastructure and administration, su
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
“Want to feel old?” “Yes” - truer words never spoken, tear damn broken. So grateful for all you’ve shared, especially this priceless 15-y recap. I kept Lanes from 2011: xkcd.com/931/
xkcd.com
Lanes
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Varies by IC, but many have 18 (4y terms) with 12 scientific & 6 public reps. Roster approval was slow under Biden, then pending members disinvited this year - not heard of new approvals. Separate mess. Timing & content of HHS appropriation will have bigger role than timing of Council mtgs though
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
^pay lists
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
Yes, the Jan-Feb Council dates will be pushed back until all study sections have met & ICs can create playlists. There are so few Council members left, this shouldn’t be difficult. NCATS, for example, is down to 1 member, unless they are allowed to keep the 2 who should have rotated off on Oct 31.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
As I thought, they are allowing late applications in line with the continuous submission window (Dec 8). I am guessing changes to the triage rate & summary statements will continue beyond the May 2036 Council. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov
NOT-OD-26-012: Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 - Lapse in Appropriations
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Updated Guidance on Reopening of NIH Extramural Activities Following the October 1, 2025 - Lapse in Appropriations NOT-...
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Also, pretty sure academic & research institutions stuck with standard deadlines. Some companies, nonprofits, etc may not have known what to do or were waiting for SAM, eRA Commons, or other required registrations - would be appropriate to allow them to request extension (as with natural disasters)
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Hoping an adult in the room will write a Notice clarifying that an extension to be offered (vs change to deadline). They have never offered one following past shutdowns, though.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
NIH has never changed deadlines before - just allowed late submissions (eg, could allow PIs to use Continuous Submission deadline). Sit tight, leave your app there - none will be withdrawn. The loss of institutional expertise is obvious in this “Notice” (& in more ways than updated deadline).
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
Thank you, @rwjf.org ! www.rwjf.org/en/grants/ac...
RWJF call for proposals to replace cancelled grants
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Actually, I am wrong on the timing … footnote came before Senate hearing (but maybe he had advance draft)
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
GOP has squawked but not convincingly, so I mostly expect Vought to go forward. He is pissed about Senate FY26 appropriation bill (eg, timing of footnote-I don’t like what Senate just did & will make NIH pay). No reactions described in The Hill seem like they would deter Vought. Hope I am wrong!
thehill.com
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
That was his first attempt to defund the NIH - that wasn’t a pocket rescission. Pocket rescission is sent to Congress, like the one for USAID & CPB, which was a practice run. Vought can freeze funds for 45 days, even if Congress rejects the rescission, by which time it will be too late to release $
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Pocket rescission by Vought 45 days before end of FY25
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Pocket rescission (Vought has stated intent to use, which would be 45 days before the end of FY25)
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
We’ll get the bill text after the hearing - just glad they are aware for now … looking forward to reading the text
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Big highlight was Senator Baldwin calling out the NIH MYF “policy”
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Senator Baldwin raised concern about the NIH MYF “policy” as discussion begins on Senate Labor, HHS, & Ed appropriations bill - bipartisan push back in the bill. They got the message.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Several ICs are, & some started earlier either as planned or to help spend their FY25 appropriation in time (vs achieve 50%), but they haven't updated their financial plan to reflect the rationale. NIAID MYF awards seem to be all (or mainly) in July, suggesting adoption of FY26 CJ "policy" language.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Exactly. IC staff have no desire to enable this (esp. with no written guidance), but NIH leadership does. NCI is leaderless, so not surprised they were first to formally adopt the FY26 CJ language for FY25. NINDS could be next (Aug 7 Council mtg) - or NIAID (based on leadership)
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Well, not "any" language, of course, but guidance on how appropriations are to be spent.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Congress can slip any language they want into a CR, so if the Senate especially is alarmed by all this, they could and might.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Yes, they can add language stopping altogether or lengthening the transition period to (ie, <<<50% of RPGs) a requirement for MYF. Senate Appropriations Committee considers Labor-HHS-Ed Thurs morning, so contacting Senators about MYF “policy” harms is important (& House Reps, too)
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
“In addition, NIH has recently implemented a new policy requiring that at least one-half of the remaining funds for competing research project grants (RPGs) in FY 2025 be used to upfront fund RPG competing awards. …”
cancer.gov
Funding Policy - Research Grants
NCI funding policy for research project grant (RPG) awards reflects the funding goals of the institute, NIH, and HHS.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
More about the “policy” that isn’t a policy. Most ICs haven’t updated their funding policy websites, but NCI describes the “recently implemented” MYF requirement in their July 23rd update to explain the lack of payline (but essentially 4th percentile)
scienceandfreedomalliance.substack.com
A Quiet Policy Shift That Could Devastate American Science
Why NIH’s sudden move to multi-year grant funding should alarm every principal investigator and university
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
I didn’t see anything obvious in CFR other than multiyear awards cannot exceed 5 y (not a CFR expert though) … but Congress should have questions about an unpublished “policy” with such significant impact
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
OMB was very intentional in adding this to the CJ (ditto for pretending 15% F&A rate is established). Probably similar to paylines: ICs do not need to set/publish these, so JB/HHS/DOGE can get away with enforcing (as part of award approval?) as if established policy despite never being communicated
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Yes - not commonly used in the past, but more so in recent years, either as RF1 or simply a multi-year budget period for traditional activity codes (R01, R21, R03, etc).
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Nothing in the Federal Register, NIH Grants Policy Statement, NIH Policy Manual, or the NIH Guide. As far as I can tell, there is no FY25 "multi-year funding policy". Another question for your Rep & Senators when you reach out per Don's great advice.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
The NIH has not written down nor disseminated a policy of any type regarding a requirement for multi-year funding of half of all RPGs. This sprang into existence when the FY26 Congressional Justification documents were released (see p 5 plus each IC CJ): officeofbudget.od.nih.gov/pdfs/FY26/br...
officeofbudget.od.nih.gov
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
"That new policy is the 'multi-year funding' policy." But there is no FY25 "policy"-just FY26 CJ: "The FY 2026 request will continue the FY 2025 NIH policy of allocating half of the budget for competing RPGs for awards that fully fund their outyear commitments as part of the initial grant awards."
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Reposted by Writedit
Leora Horwitz @leorahorwitzmd.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Heard from #AHRQ that the entire grants staff has been let go! They are unable to issue funds for grants already funded, let alone fund new grants. This is outrageous and will make Americans poorer and sicker. Why? A brief thread about just some recent AHRQ-funded research: #MedSky #HealthPolicy
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nih-bu...
donmoynihan.substack.com
The NIH budget is on a fast track to disaster
An NIH insider explains what Republicans are likely to do next, and what we can do
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
The NIH is broken … www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities
The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
I assume Duke is appealing each cancellation, which could restore inappropriately flagged (by word search) awards. Those canceled due to PI background (vs application content) could get at least a 1-y reprieve based on recent court ruling re: DEI.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
An extra 15 days to comment on the administration’s effort to “allow agencies to quickly remove employees from critical positions” (& replace with those aligned with administration priorities) - comments now due by 6/7/25
federalregister.gov
Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to increase career employee accountability. Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduc...
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Just a reminder - last day to submit a comment to keep political appointees from making NIH funding decisions n’at Comment here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
federalregister.gov
Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to increase career employee accountability. Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduc...
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
NCI lowered paylines by 2 points (to 7th/13th percentile) for May Council: “Considering the significant budget reductions proposed for FY 2026 … NCI’s funding strategy for FY2025 is to support current research activities, while reducing future-year budget requirements.”
cancer.gov
Funding Policy - Research Grants
NCI funding policy for research project grant (RPG) awards reflects the funding goals of the institute, NIH, and HHS.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Mainly the speed, flexibility, & programatic control. Also a way to award big chunks of money quickly, though this opportunity is for FY26 (ie, doesn’t help NHLBI quickly spend its FY25 appropriation). That’s from my outsider perspective - probably other internal pros & cons, too.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Not unprecedented & I would expect more. All of Us Research Program issued funding opps for OTAs outside the Guide, with applications emailed as PDFs. Gives program lots of flexibility. Review is black box, & OTAs are issued as blocks of funding with bureaucratic, milestone-driven oversight.
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Interesting. NHLBI is issuing its own funding opportunities outside the NIH Guide to Grants & Contracts. (full funding opportunity announcement: nhlbi-ai.org/sites/defaul... )
nhlbi-ai.org
How to Apply | NHLBI-AI Enabled Precision Medicine Initiative for Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep (HLBS) Health
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Reposted by Writedit
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
New from me: Everything feels overwhelming. But here is a tangible thing you can do: write a comment to oppose Trump's plan to convert 50,000 career civil servants into political appointees. Deadline is May 23. Please share! donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
donmoynihan.substack.com
Here is a specific thing you can do to fight Trump's politicization of public services
Plus: what I wrote in Science about the revised Schedule F
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Writedit @mlkwritedit.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
ICs have always cut budgets during a CR- up to 25%. You can check your IC’s fiscal policy for the standard budget cuts (set amount or range). Often cuts are restored once the final appropriation is in hand, but not always or completely. Illegal award freezes are unrelated to this longstanding policy
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