eRA Information: Improved Visual Appearance for eRA Commons Modules Coming Soon, Starting With ESI Eligibility Screen

Over the next few months, several eRA Commons modules and screens will be moving to the improved visual appearance being adopted by other eRA modules. The new look is part of a required technology upgrade to enhance the security and stability of eRA Commons. New screens will be rolled out during the next few months into spring, starting with a refreshed ESI Eligibility screen, which is being released today, Wednesday, January 31, 2024. 

Refreshed screens feature a new look, a new banner, new module navigation, enhanced table tools, and the use of three-dot ellipses menus in tables to access actions you can take on a record. Modules and screens to be updated include:

• ESI Eligibility
• Status (for principal investigators)
• Status (for signing officials)
  • Recent/Pending eSubmissions
  • Manage Administrative Supplements
  • Re-assign Award
• Personal Profile
• Institution Profile
• Admin Module (accounts and delegation)
• Request for Additional Materials (RAM)
  • IC (Agency) Requested Progress Report Additional Materials (IC PRAM) 
  • Public Access Progress Report Additional Materials (PA PRAM)
• Grantee Closeout (SAMHSA)
  • Tangible Personal Property Report (TPPR) 
  • Final Progress Report (FPR) 
• Additional Materials (link from Closeout Status for CDC) 
• Non-Research Amendments T5/T6 (SAMHSA)
• Quick Queries

New ESI Eligibility Screen

The new ESI Eligibility screen, available for signing officials (SOs) only, features a new banner and new table tools. 

• The ability to export to an Excel .CSV file has been moved to the Export/Print icon menu. 
• Use the table tools to specify number of results per page and to navigate through pages of search results. 
• The Search by Name capability remains the same and shows only those records that contain the text entered into the field. 

Note that SOs access the ESI Eligibility screen via the Admin module or through an ESI Eligibility search in Status. 

Figure 1: Updated ESI Eligibility screen with new table tools and new banner

Highlights of the New Look

Following the ESI Eligibility screen, all screens listed at the top of this communication will eventually adopt the new standard features being incorporated in other eRA modules. The main changes in the updated screens will be:

• Navigating to other modules — The Main Menu, located in the upper left of the new blue/green header, shows a dropdown menu of other eRA modules to which the user can navigate.

Figure 2: Click on the Main Menu (the nine squares) or the eRA logo and select from a dropdown menu of other modules

• Action items — Click a three-dot ellipsis icon to display a dropdown menu of action items. The three-dot icons replace the Action column.

Figure 3: Click the three-dot icon to select an action item from the dropdown menu

• Enhanced table tools — A set of tools enhances the ability to work with table data, from narrowing a search through the filter; selecting columns to appear, downloading and printing; specifying how many table rows appear per page, and more.

Figure 4: A set of tools to work with table data

For an explanation of all the new look and feel features, see Basics and Navigation for eRA Modules in the eRA Commons online help. 

Resources: eRA Commons: Improved Visual Appearance; Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Policies; eRA Commons online help.