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OCGA Website Enhancements

Explore the updated Awards section of the OCGA website for clearer guidance and expanded information on awards processes and campus responsibilities.

Key enhancements include:

  • Reordered Awards menu to match the sequence of the awards process
  • New Award Snapshot page
  • Revised Prior Approval page with detailed procedures and links to template letters for common actions (Box)

Contact Kassie Obelleiro, Senior Training and Skill Development Officer, OCGA at kassie.obelleiro@research.ucla.edu with questions or access issues.

Updates from the National Institutes of Health

Utilizing AI Technologies When Applying, Managing Awards and Conducting Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued reminders in a May 14, 2026 NIH Extramural News article for researchers utilizing AI technologies when applying, managing awards and conducting research. These guidelines emphasize transparency, reproducibility, and ethical considerations in AI application.

  • Individuals may submit up to six applications per calendar year in which they are designated as Principal Investigator.
  • Peer reviewers may not use generative AI for study section critiques.
  • NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI or that contain sections substantially developed by AI.

When NIH detects potential misconduct involving AI, it works with the HHS Office of Research Integrity (ORI) following established procedures. Misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or reckless misuse of AI that breaches research standards. Such violations may result in corrective actions based on severity. This highlights the need for ethical AI use in research. 

SimplerNOFO Initiative

On May 21, 206, the NIH announced that they issued the first Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) SimplerNOFO initiative: Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) NOFO (PAR-27-032). The SimplerNOFO initiative is being implemented to make funding opportunities clearer and easier for applicants. Key changes include streamlined application instructions, standardized sections across FOAs, clearer eligibility and review criteria, and improved navigation and accessibility of funding opportunity pages. The initiative aims to reduce administrative burden, minimize applicant confusion, and improve equity by ensuring consistent, user-friendly presentation of funding opportunities. NIH will roll out the new format across select FOAs and solicit feedback from the research community to refine the approach. Training resources, templates, and guidance will be provided to applicants and program staff to support the transition. The goal is to enhance transparency, accelerate application preparation, and support a diverse applicant pool while maintaining rigorous review standards. Read more in the NIH Extramural Nexus article.