Policy on Minimum Level of Effort for NCI-Funded Awards

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) issued policy NOT-CA-20-033, which describes the minimum level of effort that will be a part of the funding consideration for NCI-funded grants.

In addition to previously established policies for specific grant mechanisms that have been described in funding opportunity announcements, principal investigators, including project leaders on multi-project grants, will be required to commit a minimum level of effort to be eligible for NCI funding through R01, U01, P01, and R21 grant mechanisms.

Effective immediately, competing applications that do not meet the minimum criteria will not be considered for funding unless the level of effort is raised to comply with the policy. In addition, a request to reduce the PI’s level of effort in subsequent years of funding will not be approved if the proposed level of effort falls below the minimum level. The minimum effort policy described in this notice will not apply when the grant is in a no-cost extension. The policy will ensure that PIs devote the appropriate effort and attention to project leadership for the duration of the grant award.

View the minimum levels of effort here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-20-033.html.