NIH Extends Peer Review Modifications; Updates Information for SBIR/STTR Opportunities

By: Yvette Seger
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Over the past two weeks, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a series of Guide Notices updating the community on issues ranging from continuation of modified peer review processes to policy changes affecting the newly reauthorized Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Continuation of Modified Peer Review Processes
Last year’s extended government shutdown resulted in a backlog of study section meetings that needed to be rescheduled to ensure appropriate peer review of grants received for both the October and December application deadlines. As part of the resumption of review activities, NIH adopted a modified peer review process to streamline administrative aspects of peer review, including reducing the number of discuss applications and streamlining the post-review summary statements. On April 15, NIH issued a Notice informing the community that these modified processes – which had been in place for the January 2026 and May 2026 Council rounds – would be extended through the October 2026 Council round.

Updates to SBIR/STTR and NIH’s Implementation of Uniform Administrative Requirements
The SBIR/STTR Program was reauthorized when the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act was signed into law on April 13, 2026. To comply with the new legal parameters of the program, NIH issued several policy updates, including updates to discretionary technical and business assistance available to applicants; new limits on the number of applications that the Department of Health and Human Services will consider per Small Business Concern per fiscal year; and changes to SBIR/STTR foreign disclosure and risk management.

On April 20, NIH issued a Notice updating the agency’s implementation of 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. While the administrative flexibilities and updates in the 2024 revisions to 2 CFR 200 have been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Grants Policy Statement, provisions pertaining to Facilities & Administration costs, specifically the modified total Direct Cost definition and calculation, and the de minimis Indirect Rate have been rescinded in compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

Enforcement of Common Forms
On April 21, NIH issued a Notice updating the timeline for the leniency period for applicants to utilize Common forms for the Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support, and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement for all application due dates and Just-In-Time, Research Performance Progress Reports, and Prior Approval Submissions on or after May 8, 2026. Effective May 8, system errors associated with Common Form noncompliance will halt submission. The Notice also includes information regarding the Research Security Training Certification.