The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has implemented new requirements for Biographical sketches, requiring applicants to prepare their Biosketches using the Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) platform. This transition to mandatory SciENcv-generated Biosketches represents one of the most significant changes to proposal documentation requirements in recent years. These changes introduce a new format, additional certification requirements, and updates to how researchers document their qualifications and contributions to science.
For teams preparing NIH applications, understanding these requirements is essential to ensuring a compliant application. Based on Eva Garland Consulting’s experience supporting NIH applicants through the initial transition period, EGC highly recommends starting early on Biosketch preparation for upcoming applications. Waiting until the week of submission to establish accounts, link Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) profiles, or complete certifications may cause preventable delays that jeopardize submission. Here’s the rundown:
- Since May 8, 2026, NIH only accepts Biosketches generated and certified in SciENcv. This applies to applications, Just-in-time (JIT) requests, Research Performance Progress Report (RPPRs), and prior approval requests.
- The Biosketch has two parts, the Common Form and the NIH Supplement, which SciENcv outputs as one combined PDF.
- Every key personnel listed on a proposal needs a SciENcv account, an ORCID, and an Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons account, with ORCID linked to both.
- Each person must certify their own Biosketch. A delegate can’t do it for them.
- Any older format or change to the certified Biosketch PDF triggers an ASSIST error that blocks submission.
What changed in the NIH Biosketch requirements in 2026?
Effective May 8, 2026, NIH requires the use of the new Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support, along with the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement, for applicable grant applications and other submissions. This requirement applies to application submissions, JIT requests, RPPRs, and prior approval requests.
The previous NIH Biosketch format page is no longer accepted for submissions. Instead, researchers must use SciENcv to generate digitally certified documents in the required format. These changes align NIH with standardized federal disclosure requirements and are intended to improve consistency and transparency in research funding applications.
What is SciENcv?
SciENcv is a web-based tool that helps researchers develop and maintain professional profiles and generate Biosketches that meet federal funding agency requirements. Other federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have already mandated this format.
Under the new NIH requirements, SciENcv is the required platform for preparing the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. Both documents are completed through a single interface and generated together as a combined PDF for submission. Users can also assign delegates access to their account to help with the document preparation process. Although SciENcv can help streamline document preparation, researchers remain responsible for reviewing their information and ensuring that all required fields are accurate and complete.
What information is required in the new NIH Biosketch?
The new Biosketch process includes two components: the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. The information contained in these documents is very similar to the previous NIH Biosketch format.
Biographical Sketch Common Form
The Common Form captures information about a researcher’s professional background and qualifications, including:
- Professional Preparation: Education and training.
- Appointments and Positions: Relevant professional appointments and positions, subject to NIH reporting instructions.
- Products: Research products most closely related to the proposed project, with a limit of five citations. Additional research products, with a limit of five additional citations.
NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement
The supplement captures additional information specific to NIH, including:
- Personal Statement: A narrative describing the individual’s qualifications and suitability for the proposed project.
- Honors: Academic and professional honors, with a limit of 15 entries.
- Contributions to Science: A description of the individual’s scientific contributions.
What do applicants need to do before submitting?
To prepare for the new requirements, investigators and research teams should take the following steps:
1. Establish and link your SciENcv, ORCID iD, and eRA Commons accounts.
Each individual listed on the proposal is required to have a SciENcv account, an ORCID iD, and an eRA Commons account. SciENcv is accessed through the My NCBI site. The ORCID iD must be linked to SciENcv to support the preparation of the required forms. The ORCID iD must also be linked in their eRA Commons account to submit the application.
2. Access SciENcv and prepare the required documents.
Use SciENcv to complete both the Biographical Sketch Common Form and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement. The platform generates a combined PDF containing both components.
Existing Biosketch information may provide a useful starting point, but the new forms have different fields and instructions. Confirm that your professional preparation, appointments, research products, Personal Statement, honors, and Contributions to Science are accurate and appropriately organized. Pay particular attention to selecting research products relevant to the proposed project and ensuring that the Personal Statement clearly explains your qualifications for your role on the team.
3. Complete the required certification.
Each individual must personally certify their own forms in SciENcv. A delegate cannot complete this certification on the individual’s behalf. The certification includes statements regarding the accuracy and completeness of the information, relationship with a malign foreign talent recruitment program, and applicable research security requirements.
EGC’s recommendation: For all NIH applications, the principal investigator and other key personnel who are required to provide Biosketches should begin preparing their documents several weeks early. Confirm that all required individuals have linked accounts, completed forms, and certified PDFs available before the application deadline.
How can you avoid common issues?
Transitioning to the new format requires more than changing a document template. Several issues can create unnecessary delays if they are not addressed early. During the first few submission cycles under the new requirements, we observed several recurring issues applicants encountered:
- Waiting until the application deadline to establish accounts: ORCID and eRA Commons account-linking issues can take time to resolve. Create and link these accounts well before submission. Confirm that the eRA Commons account shows that the ORCID iD is linked.
- Using an outdated Biosketch: The previous NIH format page is no longer acceptable for submissions subject to the new requirements. Application Submission System & Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) will show an error during validation if any other Biosketch format is used, and this error will prevent submission.
- Transferring information without reviewing it: Existing SciENcv documents and Biosketches may not map perfectly to the new fields. Review all transferred information for accuracy and completeness.
- Leaving fields blank: To certify your Biosketch, all fields need to have information entered. The SciENcv platform has instructions to follow if you do not have anything to enter in one of the fields.
- Making changes to the certified Biosketch: Once certified and downloaded, the Biosketch cannot be changed in any way. If it is changed, ASSIST will show an error during validation and prevent submission. Changes to the Biosketch must be made within the SciENcv platform, then the new copy must be certified and downloaded.
The best way to minimize compliance issues is to incorporate these requirements into your grant preparation process several weeks in advance of the submission deadline.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
No; ASSIST will reject it.
No; delegates can prepare the Biosketch, but only the account owner can certify.
Follow SciENcv’s instructions for that field, since blank fields block certification.
No; you can use the same Biosketch for multiple applications. However, it can be advantageous to customize your Biosketch for each application, especially in the “Products Most Related to the Application” and “Personal Statement” sections.
Yes; the NIH’s Current and Pending (Other) Support form is now housed in SciENcv. The old format will no longer be accepted.
Yes; the new and Current and Pending (Other) Support formats are required for RPPRs and JIT requests.
Within SciENcv, the online form will only allow you to certify the document all fields are filled in. Once Biosketches are uploaded in ASSIST, you can validate the application, or just the personnel tab, under the Actions panel. The system will generate an errors and warnings results page to help you fix any missing fields or compliance issues before submission.
How Eva Garland Consulting can help
Keeping up with evolving NIH requirements can be challenging, particularly for small businesses and researchers balancing proposal development with ongoing research and product development. From preparing competitive applications to coordinating required documentation, careful planning can help research teams navigate the submission process more efficiently.
Eva Garland Consulting provides scientific grant writing and proposal support services to help innovative companies identify funding opportunities, develop competitive applications, and navigate federal grant requirements. Our team of scientific grants experts can help you prepare for NIH submissions, coordinate proposal documentation, and develop a grant strategy aligned with your research and commercialization goals.