Frequently Asked Questions

General

General

Am I required to use Cayuse424 to submit my NIH proposal?
No, however there are many features designed to facilitate the submission process, e.g., “autofilling” of forms and automated error checking. Cayuse424 also provides the ability to upload the NIH Research Plan eliminating the need to convert and attach up to sixteen separate pdf documents. Also, if you use Cayuse424, you will not need to purchase Adobe Writer which is necessary with the Grants.gov system. The Research Foundation will continue to support the Grants.gov system.

Do I need to request access to Cayuse424?
Yes, contact the Research Foundation Help Desk, rfhelpdesk@osu.edu, to be set up as a user for the Cayuse424 system.

How do I obtain an NIH eRA Commons UserID?
Contact Barb Shramo, 2-1476 shramo.4@osu.edu.

If we are planning on collaborating with another institution will that organization need access to Cayuse424?
No, however please send the name of the institution (and if possible, the DUN and Bradstreet number [DUNS number] of the institution) to the RF Help Desk so we can preload information about the institution for your use as you assemble your proposal.

How do I add key personnel who are not OSU employees? Can a subcontactor be listed as the co-PI?
We have created a non-employee profile that should be used whenever an individual who is not affiliated with OSU will be listed as key personnel.

Which browsers can I use for Cayuse424?

  1. Internet Explorer (the OSU standard) and Firefox can both be used for PCs; Firefox may be a bit faster.
  2. Firefox is the recommended browser for Macs.

Can the dates be changed even when they are “autofilled?”
Yes, they can be changed.

How do you know when a pdf file is attached?
The system generates a hyperlink indicating that the file has been attached.

Is it necessary to complete the forms in sequence?
The system is designed to populate fields in the order in which they appear in the navigation.  Skipping around the proposal forms is risky since some fields “autofill” based on what was completed on the face page (SF424). There are some fields intentionally left blank, e.g., the budget information on the SF2424 face page, since these data default from the budget form pages.

How to add a Funding Opportunity Announcement on Cayuse424?
Contact the Research Foundation Help Desk, rfhelpdesk@osu.edu.

How do I convert my word document to the Cayuse424 templates?
Follow the "Using the Research Plan template" instructions for NIH proposals. Then, simply cut and paste each section of a word document to the appropriate section of the Research Plan template. Delete any sections that are not applicable to the proposal. Save the document using the "PDF for eSub" button, located on the Cayuse424 tool bar in MS Word. And finally, attach this pdf version of the document to the proposal. Use this same process for the biosketches or continuation pages.

As a PI, how do I give permission to a department administrator so that he/she can help complete proposal forms?
If you have already created the proposal, select the [Manage Proposal Permissions] icon and add a user. You will need the administrator’s name.#. Administrative staff may create proposals for PIs.