Research Administration

Digitally Signing a PDF

In the age of digital communication, Adobe Acrobat provides us the opportunity to sign documents electronically and have it be as secure and final as signing paper with ink. Once a document is signed with your digital certificate, it cannot be changed without invalidating the signature.

NIH requires an electronic signature on all Other Support submissions beginning on January 25, 2022. All principal investigators and other senior/key personnel must electronically sign the Other Support form, prior to its submission to NIH, certifying that the information is accurate and complete.

UTMB OSP will only accept electronic signatures with a digital certificate and recommends using Adobe to capture these electronic signatures (please see link below).   Applicants and recipients (department/PI) must maintain supporting documentation to reasonably authenticate that the appropriate individual signed the form. Recipients must make the documentation available upon request in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75.364. OSP will submit the Other Support documents as a flattened PDF, after all signatures are obtained.

Create Your Digital Signature

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and click EDIT.
   
   
   
   
2. Select PREFERENCES (at the bottom of the pulldown menu)
   
   
   
   
3. From Preferences, select SIGNATURES, then select the MORE button next to IDENTITIES & TRUSTED CERTIFICATES
   
   
4. Under Digital IDs, select the Icon with the plus sign to generate a new digital signature certificate.
   
   
   
   
5. Select A NEW DIGITAL ID I WANT TO CREATE NOW, then click NEXT
   
   
   
   
6. Select NEW PKCS file and click NEXT
   
   
   
   
7. Fill in the information appropriate for your signature and click NEXT
   
   
   
   
8. Navigate to the appropriate location to save your digital file, and enter a password to secure the signature. Then select FINISH. 
   
   
   
   
9. Your digital signature certificate will now appear in the Digital ID list and you can set it up as your default digital signature.