SRI Members Participate in Virtual Hill Days

U.S.-based SRI members joined virtual meetings with U.S. congressional offices coordinated with the Women First Research Coalition (WFRC) to describe how the Office of Management and Budget's proposed federal grant rule could affect their work and urge Congress to oppose it. Also in August, the Senate passed legislation that would temporarily block finalization or implementation of the rule through December 11, 2026. House action is still required, so the proposal’s status remains unresolved. Thank you to the members who represented reproductive science and women's health research in these important conversations.

Learn More: OMB Proposed Rule | Senate Action on the Continuing Resolution 

Australia | Input Sought on Health-Inequities Research

Australia’s Medical Research Future Fund is seeking feedback on the draft Roadmap and Implementation Plan for its new AUD $150 million Reducing Health Inequities Mission. The consultation offers Australia-based SRI members an opportunity to highlight maternal and reproductive-health inequities affecting priority populations. Comments are due September 25, 2026. 

Learn More: MRFF Consultation and Submission Portal 

Canada | CIHR Reviews Project Grant Program

CIHR is considering changes to its flagship Project Grant program after application volumes increased by more than 50% while the number of grants funded remained relatively stable. Options discussed include application limits, restrictions on repeated submissions, and changes to competition frequency. No decisions have been made, and Canadian members should watch for further consultation opportunities. 

Learn More: CIHR Project Grant Consultation 

Canada | Feedback Sought on Research Security

The Government of Canada is seeking feedback on research-security requirements affecting many CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, and Canada Foundation for Innovation applications. The anonymous survey offers Canada-based researchers and institutions an opportunity to share their experiences implementing these policies. Responses are due October 2, 2026. 

Learn More: Canadian Research Security Policies 

U.K. | UKRI Sets New Funding and Peer-Review Direction

UK Research and Innovation has released its 2026-2031 strategy, including plans to support more than 20,000 new doctoral studentships and reduce grant-processing times by at least 50% by 2031. UKRI will test approaches such as distributed peer review, although specific implementation details have not yet been announced. UK-based SRI researchers should monitor how these changes are applied by the Medical Research Council.

Learn More: UKRI Strategy 2026-2031 

U.S. | NIH Peer Review Changes

NIH is considering replacing numerical impact scores and percentiles with three categories: Most Competitive, Competitive, and Not Discussed. Written critiques and criterion scores would remain, but final impact scores would no longer be released. The request for information (RFI) offers U.S.-based SRI members an opportunity to comment on how this change could affect funding transparency and applicants’ ability to interpret review outcomes. Comments are due October 13, 2026. 

Learn More: NIH RFI on Peer Review Reporting | Submit Comments 

U.S. | NIH Career Development Awards

NIH will consolidate individual K mechanisms, eliminate Data Management and Sharing plans for K applications, and discontinue Independent Clinical Trial Required K opportunities for due dates on or after October 12, 2027. A related request for information (RFI) offers U.S.-based SRI members an opportunity to comment on proposed funding models that would allow mentored K awardees to lead clinical trials. Comments are due September 30, 2026.

Learn More: NIH K Award Updates | NIH Clinical-Trial Funding RFI | Submit Comments 

U.S. | NIH Selects New Director of NICHD

NIH has selected pediatric neurologist Dr. John Gaitanis as Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), effective August 23, 2026, after approximately 18 months without permanent leadership. The appointment restores permanent leadership to a key federal funder of reproductive, maternal, developmental, and child-health research.

Learn More: NIH Announcement 

SRI Endorses the National Strategy to Close the Women's Health Gap 

The Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) is proud to be one of 37 leading women's health organizations endorsing the National Strategy to Close the Women's Health Gap, a landmark initiative developed by the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Women First Research Coalition (WFRC). The National Strategy was officially launched on July 15, 2026, during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, USA.

The Strategy presents a vision for a $20 billion, 10-year federal investment to accelerate research, improve access to evidence-based care, strengthen the women's health research workforce, modernize regulatory policies, and build the data infrastructure needed to advance women's health across the lifespan. Together, these priorities aim to close longstanding gaps in research and clinical care while improving health outcomes for women and families.

SRI is proud to support this important national effort and to advocate for policies that strengthen reproductive science and women's health research.

Learn More: US National Strategy to Close the Women's Health Gap

Thank You for Supporting Women’s Health Research 

Thank you to the many SRI members who submitted comments in response to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed rule. Your engagement helps ensure that the perspectives of reproductive and women's health researchers are represented in federal policymaking. We encourage all U.S.-based members to continue engaging with policymakers by contacting their Members of Congress to advocate for sustained investment in women's health research. Resources and information on how to contact your elected officials are available on the SRI Advocacy Resources page.

Policy Update: NSF Announces New Restrictions on Collaborations with Certain Institutions in China 

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a new research policy that will prohibit NSF-funded investigators from collaborating with researchers affiliated with many Chinese institutions designated on federal restricted entity lists. The policy is expected to apply to grant proposals submitted in Fiscal Year 2027. Members with current or future NSF funding are encouraged to review the policy and assess any potential impact on existing or planned international collaborations.

Learn More: NSF Policy on Collaborations with Restricted Entities

Proposed Changes to U.S. Federal Research Funding Guidance 

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a proposed rule revising the Uniform Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (2 C.F.R. Part 200), which governs many aspects of federally funded research in the United States. The proposal includes changes related to grant review and administration, international collaborations, publication and conference costs, and other areas that may affect the conduct of research.

Although this proposal originates in the United States, its potential impact extends beyond U.S. borders. Many members of our international community collaborate with U.S.-based investigators, participate in federally funded research projects, contribute to multinational studies and biobanks, host trainees, or engage in scientific meetings supported by U.S. research funding. As such, the proposed changes may be of interest to members regardless of country of residence.

The public comment period is currently open through July 13, 2026. Members who wish to learn more about the proposed rule or submit comments can access the following resources:

• Endocrine Society guidance and instructions for submitting comments: Endocrine Society Comment Guidance
• FASEB resources and comment template: FASEB OMB Proposed Rule Resources

Key points for members:

• Anyone may submit a comment. Faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, trainees, and other stakeholders are eligible to participate in the public comment process.
• Comments may be submitted anonymously. Individuals who prefer not to disclose their identity may submit comments without including personally identifiable information.
• Public comments are an important part of the U.S. federal rulemaking process. Agencies are required to review and consider submitted comments before finalizing a rule. Individualized comments can help policymakers understand how proposed changes may affect researchers, trainees, institutions, collaborations, and the broader scientific community.

Members are encouraged to review the proposal, consult the resources above, and determine whether they wish to participate in the public comment process.