NIH Makes Changes to Review Processes for Proposals Involving Chimpanzees

By: Galen Cobb
Thursday, July 24, 2025
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revised its process for reviewing research proposals involving chimpanzees. Since 2016, NIH has prohibited all invasive research involving chimpanzees and allows only limited categories of noninvasive research involving chimpanzees or chimpanzee biomaterials, as described in NOT-OD-16-095. Funding for eligible proposals will continue to be considered, but the required Chimpanzee Research Use (CRU) forms will be submitted through a new protocol.

The new process eliminates the CRU Reporting System, formerly administered by the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI). The new point of contact for projects requesting the use of chimpanzees and chimpanzee biomaterials is the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Division of Assurances. Grant applicants will be contacted by the Grants Management Specialist (GMS) with a request to submit a completed CRU form as Just-In-Time information. All projects must still comply with the Standards of Care outlined in 42 CFR Part 9. Full details of the new process for grant applicants can be found in NOT-OD-25-123.