National Institutes of Health AI policy

For applicants

• NIH will not consider applications that are substantially developed by AI, or that contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of the applicant. This rule is now part of the NIH Grants Policy Statement (Section 2.3.7.13).[1][2]
• AI tools may be appropriate for limited aspects of application preparation or in specific circumstances. NIH warns that AI use can lead to plagiarism, fabricated citations, or other research misconduct.[1]
• If substantial AI use is detected after an award is made, NIH may refer the matter to the HHS Office of Research Integrity and take enforcement action, such as disallowing costs, withholding future awards, suspending the grant, or terminating it.[1][2]
• NIH and the HHS Office of Research Integrity advise researchers to clearly describe in their applications any AI tools used and how they were used in developing the application. They warn that using AI in ways that deviate from accepted research practice can be research misconduct, and they list fully AI-generated grant applications among the situations they may look at.[3]
• NIH accepts no more than six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications per Principal Investigator (including as a Multiple PI) per calendar year, except T activity codes and R13 conference grants. NIH introduced this limit after seeing PIs submit large numbers of applications, some of which may have been generated with AI tools. It applies from the September 25, 2025 receipt date onward.[1]

For reviewers

• NIH peer reviewers may not use natural language processors, large language models, or other generative AI tools to analyze applications or contract proposals or to write their critiques.[4]
• Uploading or sharing any content or original concepts from an NIH application, proposal, or critique to an online generative AI tool breaks NIH peer review confidentiality rules. Reviewers certify this in their Security, Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement, and the same rule applies to members of NIH advisory councils and boards.[4]
• Technology used for accessibility needs may be granted an exception. Reviewers must tell their Designated Federal Officer about it before using it.[4]

Sources

1. [1]

   NOT-OD-25-132: Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications

   National Institutes of Health, July 17, 2025

   “NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants.”

   “AI tools may be appropriate to assist in application preparation for limited aspects or in specific circumstances, but researchers should be aware that using AI comes with its own risks. AI use may result in plagiarism, fabricated citations, or other kinds of research misconduct.”

   “If the detection of AI is identified post award, NIH may refer the matter to the Office of Research Integrity to determine whether there is research misconduct”

   “NIH will only accept six new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications from an individual Principal Investigator/Program Director or Multiple Principal Investigator for all council rounds in a calendar year.”

   “including but not limited to disallowing costs, withholding future awards, wholly or in part suspending the grant, and possible termination.”

   “NIH has recently observed instances of Principal Investigators submitting large numbers of applications, some of which may have been generated with AI tools.”

   “This policy applies to all activity codes except T activity codes and R13 Conference Grant Applications.”

   “This policy is effective for applications submitted to the September 25, 2025, receipt date and beyond.”

2. [2]

   NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. March 2026), 2.3.7.13 Appropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

   National Institutes of Health, March 25, 2026

   “If NIH identifies evidence of plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification, NIH will refer the matter to the HHS Office of Research Integrity for review.”

   “NIH will not consider applications that are either substantially developed by AI, or contain sections substantially developed by AI, to be original ideas of applicants.”

   “2.3.7.13 Appropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) While NIH recognizes that AI tools may be appropriate to assist in limited aspects of application preparation”

3. [3]

   Helpful Reminders to Ensure Integrity of NIH-Supported Research When Using Artificial Intelligence (NIH Extramural Nexus)

   National Institutes of Health and HHS Office of Research Integrity, May 14, 2026

   “Clearly describe in applications, manuscripts, and presentations the use of the AI tools and how they may have been used during the development of an application, research itself, and/or data analysis and subsequent results”

   “When researchers intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly use AI tools in a manner that deviates from accepted research practices, they may cross the line into research misconduct.”

   “Completely generating grant applications and/or papers using AI tools (including”

4. [4]

   NOT-OD-23-149: The Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies is Prohibited for the NIH Peer Review Process

   National Institutes of Health, June 23, 2023

   “the NIH prohibits NIH scientific peer reviewers from using natural language processors, large language models, or other generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for analyzing and formulating peer review critiques for grant applications and R&D contract proposals.”

   “Reviewers should be aware that uploading or sharing content or original concepts from an NIH grant application, contract proposal, or critique to online generative AI tools violates the NIH peer review confidentiality and integrity requirements.”

   “NIH will also extend this policy to members of NIH National Advisory Councils and Boards and will require such members to certify similar Security, Confidentiality, and Nondisclosure agreements.”

   “Computer technologies that are used for accessibility needs may be granted an exception to this policy. NIH Peer Reviewers must communicate the technology being used with their Designated Federal Officer in charge of the review meeting or other designated NIH official prior to use.”