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Updated NIH Policy for Institutional Training Grants

Published March 25, 2019

This notification is an update on the prior announcement regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) new policy for training grants. On January 9, 2019, the NIH issued a Notice of Clarification Regarding Harassment & Discrimination Protections in NIH Training Applications: NOT-OD-19-056.

The Office of Sponsored Research Services (OSRS) received further clarification from NIH that each institutional training grant (T Grant) application should include the harassment certifications in the Letter of Support that describes the applicant institution’s commitment to the planned program in order to ensure its success. The harassment certification should not be in a separate letter.

The following language should be included in the Institutional Commitment letter:

To comply with National Institutes of Health NOT-OD-19-029 and NOT-OD-19-056, Washington University in St. Louis provides this institutional commitment regarding the NIH policy for Harassment and Discrimination Protections in NIH Training Applications:

  1. Washington University in St. Louis has implemented policies, procedures, and oversight designed to prevent and address discriminatory harassment and other discriminatory practices. Please visit our Discrimination & Harassment Policy for additional information.
  2. Washington University in St. Louis has implemented policies to respond to allegations of discriminatory practices, including any required notifications to Office for Civil Rights. For additional information please visit:
    • Review Process for Complaints Against Staff
    • Discrimination & Harassment Hearing Committee Procedures
  3. If the Program Director/Principal Investigator or other key personnel (collectively, “PD/PI”) on an NIH funded award is removed as a result of disciplinary or administrative action, Washington University in St. Louis will communicate through its Authorized Organization Representative to request NIH approval for any changes in the PD/PI.

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to excellence in science, and recognizes that excellent science requires a training and research environment without harassment or discrimination.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Research Services.