NOT-OD-25-132 AI and Submission Limits Guidance for NIH Applications

NOT-OD-25-132

NIH's policy on AI use and application submission limits remains in effect. Investigators and departmental staff should be aware of the following requirements.

AI Use in NIH Applications

• Applications must reflect the original ideas and scientific contributions of the investigators. 
• NIH will not accept applications that are substantially generated by artificial intelligence (AI). 
• Improper use of AI, including plagiarism, fabricated citations, or other misleading content, may result in research misconduct reviews and enforcement actions, including potential termination of awards. 
• As part of the UCSF proposal routing process, Principal Investigators must certify that the application represents their own original work and was not substantially developed by AI. 
  • #8 I certify the final application is my own original ideas and is not substantially developed by AI, nor does it contain sections substantially developed by AI.

NIH Application Submission Limits

NIH limits the number of applications that may be submitted by an individual Principal Investigator:

• A maximum of six NIH applications per PI per calendar year, based on NIH Council Round Dates. 
• 2026 Council Round: Applications with due dates from September 25, 2025, through May 7, 2026 
• 2027 Council Round: Applications with due dates from May 25, 2026, through May 7, 2027 
• The policy applies to most NIH activity codes, with limited exceptions (such as certain training and conference grant mechanisms). 

Important Reminder

• PIs are responsible for monitoring their personal application counts through eRA Commons. 
• Departments should consider these limits when planning submission strategies and coordinating multiple NIH applications involving the same investigator. 

NIH has also published FAQs that clarify how applications are counted and which application types are subject to the submission limit.

For additional information, see Use of Generative AI in Peer Review/ Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications FAQ