Universities must complete and document investigations into allegations of harassment, bullying, retaliation, or other hostile working conditions in connection with grant-funded activities, even if the person under investigation leaves the university, according to new policies from the National Institutes of Health.
The recent updates, reflected in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, informed by Public Law 119-75, and announced in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-26-097, allow for the NIH to halt the transfer of an ongoing award when a principal investigator seeks to move to another university while an investigation remains ongoing or unresolved.
Additionally, the NIH can inform the new university of the investigation findings through NIH’s compliance review processes, according to the news rules. The new institution may independently determine that it will not proceed with an appointment or award transfer.
The federal agency argues the new rules strengthen accountability and institutional responsibility.
“Taken together, these measures reflect NIH’s commitment to protecting the research workforce and ensuring that public funds support science conducted in environments of respect, accountability, and integrity,” according to a Sept. 9 NIH press release. “Through its policy changes, NIH has reaffirmed that safe research environments are not optional—they are a fundamental condition of NIH support.”