NIH Adapts to COVID-19 Pandemic

With the severe disruption to research activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing strain at labs across the country, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has had to quickly address the situation for the workforce while also mobilizing to support research activities related to the virus and comorbidities. Despite the extreme challenge of the situation, the NIH has remained accessible and extramural staff are working hard to share information with the research community, process grant applications, make awards, and continue operations while working remotely.

Recognizing that extramural research labs are operating at a significantly reduced level or closed entirely for the near future, the NIH is trying to be as flexible as possible with administrative requirements for applicants and recipients of NIH grants. The NIH is also able to grant accommodations for loss of research time, especially for early-career researchers. To provide the research community with a centralized information resource and updates on policies and procedures, NIH has implemented a new COVID-19 information webpage for applicants and grantees that is updated regularly and includes a comprehensive history of updates.

At the same time, the NIH has mobilized resources to respond to the immediate public health threat. In addition to making use of regularly appropriated funds, the NIH has received additional funds in the recent emergency supplemental bills related to COVID-19. Through these supplements, as of April 15, 2020 several NIH ICs have received a combined total of nearly $1.8 billion, with ~$1.5 billion of the total to NIAID. To get resources out to the community as expeditiously as possible, the NIH is using special competitive revision funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) and notices of special interest (NOSIs), often with rolling due dates. A complete list of FOAs and NOSIs are also compiled on the information webpage above. This is obviously a rapidly evolving situation and we encourage members to keep in touch with their program officers and closely monitor the NIH information webpage for updates.

The Endocrine Society meanwhile will continue to work with the Congress and NIH to ensure that endocrine research questions related to COVID-19 such as chronic disease comorbidities are appropriately prioritized and supported during this critical time.

Endocrinology and Metabolism: Open Access is a peer reviewed journal which focuses on the publication of current research and developments on the endocrine glands and its secretions with their coordination with metabolism and reproduction. Endocrinology and Metabolism: Open Access aims to function as the global face of endocrinology research. Subject areas: Endocrine glands and hormones, Hormone metabolism, Structure and physiochemical properties, Paediatric Endocrinology, Endocrine pharmacology, Molecular endocrinology, Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrinology, Comparative Endocrinology, Cardiovascular endocrinology, Reproductive endocrinology, Hormonal receptors Signalling mechanisms, Hormone regulated gene expression, Intracellular steroid and lipid metabolism, Bone and mineral metabolism. The journal accepts manuscripts in the form of original research article, review article, short communication, case report, letter-to-the-Editor and Editorials for publication in an open access platform. All the articles published in the journal can be accessed online without any subscription charges and will receive the benefit of extensive worldwide visibility.

Submit your manuscript at : https://www.imedpub.com/submissions/endocrinology-metabolism-open-access.html or Send as an attachment to: endometabol@emedscholar.com

Regards,
Eliza Grace
Associate Managing Editor
Endocrinology and Metabolism: Open Access
E-Mail: endometabol@emedscholar.com
Whatsapp: +44-1470-490003