Welcome Back, Husky Scholars!
We hope your summer was filled with well-earned rest, inspiration and maybe even a little adventure. Now that the academic year is in full swing, we’re thrilled to welcome all of our new subscribers to Weekly Research Roundup to our vibrant community of nursing scholars!
For those returning, you might notice that our research enterprise has evolved since spring quarter wrapped. This edition of Notes on Nursing Research & Innovation highlights key updates from the UW School of Nursing, the broader university and federal research funding agencies over the past three months. Let’s dive in.
University of Washington School of Nursing
Spring Research Intramural Funding Program (RIFP) Awardees
The most recent cycle of RIFP reviews awarded $100,000 to UW School of Nursing faculty members. These four incredible projects are truly pushing the boundaries in nursing science—read more about the spring 2025 RIFP awardees. The fall 2025 RIFP cycle was expected to be released in early October.
University of Washington Digital Health Innovation Hub (DHIH)
This summer the DHIH was busy with three new initiatives. These included new seed funding, the fall quarter Voices in Nursing Innovation Fireside Chat featuring nurse innovator Jo Masterson on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, and the AI Advancement in Nursing: Education, Research, and Practice Symposium scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Transitions
This summer we said goodbye to two longtime ONR&I team members, Ken Pike and Kaletra Welch. We are grateful for all of their contributions to the UW School of Nursing and their steadfast dedication to supporting our community in our shared mission to elevate nursing science.
We are also excited to welcome two new team members to our unit. Warren Szewczyk is a research scientist who is available for statistical consultation, and Ron Craig has joined our post-award management team. Please extend a warm welcome to both Warren and Ron. Warren’s Lunch and Learn session was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
ONR&I Lunch and Learn
Our Lunch and Learn seminar series returned with a stellar lineup of nine of our colleagues sharing their incredible work. From best practices in sample size estimation to research collaboration opportunities at Seattle Children’s Hospital to using AI to determine when a patient is at risk for pneumonia, the 2025–26 speakers were bound to inform and inspire all in attendance.
University of Washington Office of Research
Required Training for Principal Investigators
Research training requirements vary by sponsor and research activities. All UW principal investigators who apply for or receive externally funded grants or contracts are required to complete Grants Management for Investigators. Additional requirements may include Good Clinical Practice, Financial Conflicts of Interest and Research Security Training, depending on the sponsor and project. Please double-check your training transcript to make sure applicable requirements are up to date.
Grant Proposal Submission Deadlines Are Changing
Federal changes are increasing sponsor demands and regulatory requirements, prompting earlier and more detailed proposal reviews. To meet these evolving expectations, the UW School of Nursing is updating its internal proposal submission deadlines: final business elements are due 14 business days before the sponsor’s deadline, and all final documents must be ready 7 business days prior. ONR&I pre-award staff will begin adjusting timelines with investigators this fall, with full implementation effective for proposals due on or after Jan. 1, 2026.
Workday Finance Tools for the Research Community
Stay on top of your research grant spending with ease by getting familiar with the PI Dashboard in Workday. This 19-minute video will provide you with clear instructions for how to access and navigate the PI Dashboard to get answers to specific questions about your award. The dashboard offers a clear snapshot of your research portfolio, start-up funds and RIFP expenses all in one place and lets you drill down into the details that matter most.
New Diversity in Clinical Trials Requirements Effective Jan. 1, 2026
A new University of Washington policy requires researchers to submit a Diversity Plan for all research that meets the definition of a clinical trial where UW employees or agents are responsible for or engage in recruitment or consent activities. This policy is aimed at improving enrollment of underrepresented groups in clinical trials. Key components might include culturally tailored recruitment strategies, translation and interpreter services, e-consent options and tracking enrollment metrics. Investigators should plan for associated costs during their proposal development. Resources to support compliance include the UW Health Sciences Library, ITHS Recruitment Support Service and UW Translation & Interpreter Services. For other guidance, contact HSD at hsdinfo@uw.edu or review their planning and budgeting guidance.
Federal Funding Changes
Mandatory Manuscript Deposits in PubMed Central
Beginning July 1, 2025, NIH-funded author accepted manuscripts accepted for publication must be made freely available in PubMed Central without embargo upon the official date of publication. No delays. No embargoes. No excuses. Read more about NIH’s new public access policy and investigator responsibilities.
NIH Grant Submission Cap
Beginning Sept. 25, 2025, NIH will limit each PI—whether applying solo or as part of a multiple PI team—to six new, renewal, resubmission or revision applications per year. Learn what the new NIH grant submission cap means for investigators.
New Application Structure for NIH-Funded International Collaborations
NIH has introduced new activity codes (PF5 and UF5) for complex international applications. Review NIH’s guidance on the new PF5 and UF5 activity codes for multicomponent or complex applications. If you are planning to submit an NIH proposal with a foreign component, please reach out to the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation as soon as possible.
We know, it’s a lot and we’re sure you have questions. Please know that the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation is here to help you navigate these changes. Throughout the year, we’ll be working with Faculty Council, our departments and others to make sure that you are kept up to date on these—and all future—sponsored project updates. From everyone at the Office for Nursing Research & Innovation, we wish you a wonderful academic year.