Are you planning to use ASSIST for your upcoming R21 or R03?

ASSIST is a relatively new system for submission of NIH grant applications.  It was originally deployed for use with larger applications including program project grants.  According to this notice, the system will now be available for the next round of R21 and R03 applications.  Applicants will still be able to use other methods of submission, including grants.gov and system-to-system transmission. 

What will you be using for the June cycle?  Have you embraced ASSIST or will you be sticking to the old way of doing things?  Tell us in the comments section below.

If you are planning to try ASSIST, view a helpful user guide from NIH here.

Learning to use ASSIST for multi-project applications

When NIH rolled out the use of the ASSIST system instead of paper, grants managers across the country let out a collective gasp.  Gone is the need for page numbering, copying, and collating hundreds of pages of papers and killing hundreds of trees in the process.  However, this was replaced with a system that is counter-intuitive and still needs some changes to be ideal. 

That said, there are plenty of resources available to help you understand how ASSIST works.  Even if you are fortunate enough to have an experienced research administrator on staff who will handle all entry and uploading, it is still important as a PI that you understand how your application will be built.  How the pieces are ordered and what each document is titled on your pages will go a long way toward helping reviewers.  This is especially important because the system does not allow you to change naming or numbering of cores and projects. 

Here are some ASSIST resources that will help you to become an expert in the use of the system:

• NIH ASSIST FAQs\
• NIH Webinar on using ASSIST to submit multi-project applications
• era ASSIST Online Help System