At NIH, we are committed to and have made progress toward our goal of ending sexual harassment in biomedical research. Our efforts in recent years have focused on demonstrating accountability and transparency, clarifying NIH’s expectations that funded institutions ensure a safe workplace free of harassment, and establishing clear channels of communication for reporting to NIH. While these efforts led to progress, NIH lacked clear authority to require funded institutions to report to NIH whether personnel changes to an NIH grant are related to harassment, only that they should report it.
Today, thanks to members of Congress, NIH is implementing a general provision in the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-103) that mandates the NIH Director to require NIH-funded institutions to report to the NIH “when individuals identified as principal investigator or as key personnel in an NIH notice of award are removed from their position or are otherwise disciplined due to concerns about harassment, bullying, retaliation, or hostile working conditions.” Effective July 8, 2022, NIH is requiring notification by the Authorized Organization Representative at NIH-funded institutions within 30 days of the removal or disciplinary action. Details of this new NIH requirement is posted on this NIH Grants and Funding webpage on supporting a safe and respectful workplace at institutions that receive NIH funding and the NIH Anti-Sexual Harassment website.
Learn more about this important step in a statement by NIH Acting Director Dr. Lawrence Tabak and this NIH guide notice.