NIH Common Forms for Biographical Sketches, Live Now

Starting January 25, 2026, the NIH will require the use of Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support for all grant applications and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs). For full details, see the official NIH notice: NOT-OD-26-018.

• All required forms must be completed using SciENcv.
• Senior/key personnel must have an ORCID iD linked to their eRA Commons account. The MUSC Library has a helpful guide for setting up an ORCID account.
• Senior/key personnel must personally certify that their form(s) are accurate and complete.

NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement Requirements

Personal Statement

• Limit 3,500 characters, including spaces.
• Include up to 5 products* or citations that are directly related to the proposed project.

Honors

• List no more than 15 honors. Select the most relevant or most significant.

Contributions to Science

• Provide up to 5 contributions.
• Each contribution is limited to 2,000 characters.
• Include up to 5 products or citations that support the contributions.

*Acceptable Products

• Publications, conference papers, and presentations.
• Website(s) or other Internet site(s).
• Technologies or techniques.
• Inventions, patents, patent applications, and/or licenses.
• Other products, such as data, databases, or datasets, physical collections, audio or video products, software, models, educational aids or curricula, instruments or equipment, research material, interventions (e.g., clinical or educational), or new business creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give someone else access to my NCBI to manage my biosketch? Yes. Follow these steps:

1. In My NCBI, hover over your name at the top of the screen and select Account Settings.
2. Scroll to the Delegates section.
3. Add the person you want as a delegate to help manage your bibliography and SciENcv profiles.
4. Delegates cannot certify your Biosketch Common Form or NIH Supplement.

How do I link my ORCID iD to my eRA Commons?

1. Once your ORCID account is created, log in to eRA Commons.
2. Go to the Personal Profile section.
3. Find the “Create or connect your ORCID iD” link.
4. You will be routed to the ORCID platform.
5. Log in and authorize NIH to access your ORCID profile.

How can an external collaborator get an eRA Commons ID?

• External collaborators cannot create their own eRA Commons accounts. Their home institution must create the eRA Commons ID for them. If the collaborator does not have an institutional administrator who can do this, they should contact the grants office at their institution to request one. If the collaborator is not affiliated with any institution, MUSC’s department administrator(s) should contact MUSC's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to confirm whether there is a need to set up a Commons account for an external collaborator. Please note, this is an extremely rare occurrence.
• For assistance, please contact your assigned ORSP Grants Administrator, or for general assistance in creating eRA Commons profiles, you may contact orsp@musc.edu with the subject “NIH Commons Account.”