NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH eRA COMMONS

What is the NIH Commons?

The NIH Commons is designed to make the grant application process paperless and more streamlined. The Commons is available at https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/.

Obtaining an eRA Commons Account

In order to use the NIH eRA Commons, UCSF Principal Investigators need to have an activated account, have a username assigned, and be provided with a temporary password. To have an account activated, please send an email with the persons name that needs an account along with their email address to federalprojects@ucsf.edu. In the subject line of the email mark "Request for eRA Commons Account." Allow up to four days for account validation and activation. Note: UCSF staff accounts (Administrative Assistant (ASST)) are also available.

What Features are Available on the NIH Commons?

Status: This facility allows PIs to review the current status of all their grant applications and review detailed information associated with their grants. Institution Officials (i.e. Signing Official (SO) or Administrative Official (AO) associated with the institution) are able to see a summary view of grant applications, review the Notice of Grant Award, and access the Progress Report face page.

Internet Assisted Review (IAR): This facility allows a Reviewer to submit critiques and preliminary scores for applications they are reviewing. Allows Reviewers, SRAs, and GTAs to view all critiques in preparation for the meeting. Allows Principal Investigators to see the reviewers' comments after the review is completed.

Personal Profile: This facility allows access to view and update account data maintained by the NIH such as Degrees, Addresses, and Publications.

Financial Status Reports: This facility allows electronic submission of financial information associated with a grant. (Note: FSRs are handled at Accounting.)

eSNAP: This facility allows an institution to review non-competing grant data and perform a progress report submission online. eSNAP User Guide (Note: eSNAP is available at UCSF.)

JIT: The PI/Department can upload JIT materials online and then notify C&G that the documents are ready for submission. JIT Submission Procedures

Close-out: This feature allows PI to submit Final Progress Report and Final Intervention Statement online. Close-out Submission Procedures

X-Train: Through the eRA Commons, the X-Train application is not yet available.

Administration: This facility includes an Account Administration module that allows an institution to create and manage user accounts associated with the institution. (This facility is controlled centrally.)