The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that as of August 10, 2026, it is ending the Continuous Submission policy and updating the late application submission policy to designate participation in a recent advisory group meeting as an acceptable reason for late submission (NOT-OD-26-064). The NIH will accept Continuous Submission applications through August 10, 2026 (the end of the continuous submission receipt period for the June/July standard due dates) for assignment to January 2027 Council.
The expiring policy has allowed appointed members of NIH review and Advisory Groups, and peer reviewers with recent substantial service (six times in 18 months), to submit their research grant applications (R01, R21, or R34) on a continuous basis and to have those applications undergo initial peer review in a timely manner.