As ORPA previously reminded the community, the NIH updated requirements for the Biosketch and Other Support documents go into effect on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.  This updated NIH Other Support document now includes a signature block for the Program Director/Principal Investigator or Other Senior/Key Personnel to certify the accuracy of the information submitted. Each PD/PI or senior/key personnel must personally electronically sign their respective Other Support form as a PDF prior to submission.  The use of this updated format page is required for proposals, Just-in-Time (JIT) documents and Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs).

To facilitate the transition to the new electronic signature requirement, ORPA has developed PDF guides and short videos to illustrate the steps to:

• Request and activate a DocuSign account and create a signature
• Prepare and sign the Other Support document for both Researchers and Research Administrators
• Flatten the already signed document for uploading in NIH electronic systems

Links to these documents and videos can be found on the ORPA webpage, DocuSign and Other Support. Stay tuned for information on live sessions that ORPA will offer in February to demo and answer questions on DocuSign.

It is important to note that Princeton University’s licensed and approved platform for electronic signature is DocuSign.  The University has not reviewed nor licensed other electronic signature products, such as Adobe Sign. Thus, it is important that our community members who are seeking or are supported by NIH funding review the above-referenced information and activate/utilize a DocuSign account prior to any submission of the Other Support document to NIH.

Please ensure that your ORPA GCA is aware of any submissions due to NIH this spring so that we may provide as much support to each other as possible in this time of change. As always, the ORPA staff is available to assist in the transition and to answer any questions that arise.