Current and Pending (Other) Support

Prepare for NIH Moving to Common Forms

NIH Biographical Sketch & Other Support Common Form Requirement

The NIH is currently previewing the SciENcv Common Forms for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents. It is anticipated that the official version of these forms will become available in 2026.

You must continue to use the current version of the forms (not the Common Forms) until NIH officially switches to the new format. Applications submitted with Common Form documents before the official switch may be rejected.

Key Changes

  • Documents must be completed in SciENcv
  • Each document requires the individual to certify that the information is complete and accurate.

Faculty: Prepare for the Transition

  1. Obtain an ORCID ID. Please see the Becker Library resources guide for instructions on how to set up your account.
  2. Create a SciENcv account, linking it to your ORCID ID.
  3. Assign delegates in SciENcv. Delegates can enter Common Form information but cannot certify documents. Individuals must have a SciENcv account before they can be added as a delegate.
  4. Once your ORCID ID is linked to your SciENcv account, you can preview the forms available in SciENcv
    1. Login to SciENcv
    2. Select the New Document button
    3. For document type – select either the NIH Current and Pending (Other) Support PREVIEW Common Form or the NIH Biographical Sketch PREVIEW Common Form. The Biosketch Common Form has significant changes. Review the Biosketch Common Form Changes section below for details.
    4. Continue to create the document using one of the data source options.
  5. Update your profile in eRA Commons. Cleaning up the information in eRA Commons now will result in better data importing into the Biosketch form.
  6. Create NSF versions of the forms (NSF Current and Pending (Other) Support form and NSF Biographical Sketch). This allows you to enter data in a permanent form and retain it for transferring to the official NIH forms when released. The preview versions of the NIH forms will be cleared of all data when the official forms are released.

Anticipated Biosketch Common Form Changes

  • NIH will no longer accept the NIH Biographical Sketch format page.
  • NIH will require the use of a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement to collect the “Personal Statement,” “Contributions to Science,” and “Honors” statements.
  • Sections of the document have new names.
  • Information may be required in a different area of the form.

Each form (the Biosketch and the new Biosketch Supplement) requires the individual to certify that the information is complete and accurate.

Preview the Forms

Preview versions of the Biosketch, Biosketch Supplement, and Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Forms are available in SciENcv.

After creating your SciENcv account (see above section) and linking your ORCID ID, you can preview the forms. Preview forms cannot be downloaded. Data will be deleted once the official forms are available.

NIH has posted preview instructions for each form:

You can also review the NSF’s Instructions for the Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form.

Research Administrators: Prepare for the Transition

  1. Create your own SciENcv account. This is required for you to be added as a delegate.
    1. From the login screen, select More Options
    2. Select More login options
    3. Search for Washington University in St. Louis
    4. Continue with account set up
  2. Ensure faculty have ORCID ID and SciENcv accounts set up.
  3. Encourage faculty to assign you access in SciENcv.
    1. Note: Staff must click on the delegate email received from SciENcv within three days of receipt to avoid the faculty member having to complete this a second time. Recent tests confirm that this functionality is still working.
    2. Delegates can only generate PDFs for certified documents. If the document is not certified, the delegates sees the Certification Required warning.
  4. Encourage faculty to update profiles in eRA Commons. Cleaning up the information in eRA Commons now will result in better data importing into the Biosketch form.
  5. Ensure all senior/key personnel complete Current and Pending (Other) Support Training.
  6. Create and/or update faculty’s information in RADAR.
  7. Test exporting data from RADAR and importing into SciENcv. Instructions are provided in the RADAR section below.
  8. Provide an overview of key changes to faculty within your department (resources available below).
  9. Review the preview instructions for the NIH Common Form Instructions (links available above).

RADAR – Research Administrators Data and Reporting

SciENcv will allow for import of Current and Pending (Other) Support from RADAR.

  • Data can be exported out of RADAR into SciENcv.
    • Select a report in NIH Other Support Report.
    • Click Preview Report at the bottom.
    • Click Export.
    • Click Export for SciENcv (XML).
      • On Microsoft Edge, the file will be automatically saved into your download folder on your C: (default location).
      • On Chrome, a new window may pop up asking for the location to save the file.
  • Create NSF versions of the forms (NSF Current and Pending (Other) Support form and NSF Biographical Sketch). This allows faculty to enter data in a permanent form and retain it for transferring to the official NIH forms when released. The preview versions of the NIH forms will be cleared of all data when the official forms are released.

Resources for Common Forms