If you are having trouble viewing any of the information contained in this help topic, it can also be found in the eRA Commons User Guide located online at https://www.era.nih.gov/docs/Commons_UserGuide.pdf. Use the Table of Contents of the PDF search function to find a specific topic.

Institution Basic Information

As its name implies, the Institution Basic Information page of the Institution Profile provides a means for viewing and managing fundamental information about the institution such as name, contact persons, etc. This information is divided into expandable and collapsible sections, or tiles.

Basic Information tab of IPF (collapsed)

View the Institution Basic Information section by clicking the Basic Information navigation item at top of Institutional Profile. For most users, the information is read-only, however, if you hold a Commons SO role, you have the ability to edit the information. Regardless of your role, the default view of the Institution Basic Information is read-only.

How Are Data Errors Indicated?

Each component contains certain required information and data validation occurs on Save. If information is missing or data is in the wrong format (for example an email address with no '@' sign), red font and error messages alert you. Specific errors display at the top of the screen after Save, the header with the error appears in red, and specific error message appear adjacent to fields with errors.

Errors appear at the top of the page and next to specific fields with errors, and the heading containing the error is red.

How to View Information , or Edit If You Are an SO

You can expand the component tiles partially for viewing (read-only) or entirely for editing. Tiles can be expanded:

By clicking the heading of an individual component
By clicking the View All button to expand all components
By clicking the View button in a specific header to expand that individual component
By clicking the Edit button to update the component (signing official(SO) role only)

Portion of the Basic Info page showing View All, Edit, and View buttons

Only those users holding an SO role can edit.

Refer to the specific related topic listed below for information on that individual component of the profile.

To the left of the Institution Basic Information, you find the Institution Profile dashboard. This dashboard provides quick access information to items such as number of accounts, last updated date, status of required fields, etc.

Are you having trouble with eRA Commons? The eRA Service Desk is there to help. Please visit their web page to submit a support ticket.

Was this information helpful? Do have any comments or suggestions about the information provided within this topic? Send your comments about the Commons Online Help to .