Fundamentals of NLM Grants Valerie Florance, Ph.D., Program Officer National Library of Medicine Extramural Programs

Overview NLM funding opportunities – National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) – Specialized Information Services (SIS) NLM extramural grant programs – Types of grants – Review & approval process – Tips for successful applications

National Library of Medicine Library Operations – PubMed, MedlinePlus, Toxnet National Center for Biotechnology Information – Genbank, Pubmed Central, research on biotechnology tools Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications – Clinicaltrials.gov, Visible Human project, research in informatics

National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) 8 Regional Medical Libraries + network of more than 5000 health sciences libraries and affiliates – Training, document delivery, $ for small projects – Outreach Planning & Evaluation Center – Partners in Information Access for Public Health – Tribal Connections click your state for contact info

Example: NN/LM Southeast Atlantic Region RML is located at University of Maryland in Baltimore Serves AL, DC, FL, GA, MD, MI, NC, PR, SC, TN, VA, WV Funding opportunities – Outreach State Planning and Evaluation Teams – Exhibits & Training – Library Improvement Projects Mailing list, outreach, classes

NLM Specialized Information Services (SIS) Information resources and services in toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, HIV/AIDS, and specialized topics in minority health Toxtown – an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances HazMap – information on hazardous chemicals and occupational diseases

NLM Specialized Information Services (SIS) Outreach Activities & funding opportunities – HIV/AIDS Community Outreach Projects – Fresh Start project, a structured computer/internet training program for the community, care givers, and those affected with HIV/AIDS (Houston, TX) Consumer Health Information Outreach for Minority Organizations – Pilot Projects – Internet Access and Training for African American Churches collaborative project of University, public library & churches (Rochester NY)

NLM Extramural Programs Division Grants and fellowships to those interested in using computers and telecommunication networks to improve storage, retrieval, access, and use of biomedical and health information Basic & applied research NLM grants $47.5 million in FY2002 BLIRC reviews NLM grants

NLM Grant Programs Research grants – Investigator-initiated Research, Small Project grants Infrastructure & Resource grants – Internet Access to Digital Libraries, Information System grants IAIMS grants – Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems grants Training support – Individual fellowships, informatics research training at academic centers Career development support – Career Support awards and educational loan repayment program Grants for small businesses

Infrastructure & Resource Grants Focus on improving access to and management of biomedical and health information via sustainable, user-focused ‘production’ systems Priorities: Applications of new technology; new information systems & services; connectivity & training; use of NLM products & services like MedlinePlus, clinicaltrials.gov, UMLS

NLM Internet Access to Digital Libraries (IADL) Grants Network sites, provide library services, build store of new digital resources & make them available across the network Up to 2 years; $45,000 plus $8,000 per site up to 15 sites; covers direct costs including salary, connectivity, equipment, training, consultants

NLM Information System Grants Design & deliver a new resource or service to a defined audience, with their participation and support Up to 3 years, average award is $150,000 per year. Covers direct costs, including salary, equipment, planning, travel, consultants

Examples: Infrastructure & Resource Awards Connectivity & training for care providers & public in 10 Idaho Hospitals, including kiosks for patients Wireless connectivity for 20 organizations in the Rio Arriba Family Care Network, Espanola Multilingual health information for clinicians and patients at community health center serving Asian refugees in Boston Home computers and specialized information for women in Wisconsin with breast cancer

Examples: Infrastructure & Resource Awards Information portal and library services for mental health professionals, accessible at city clinics in Boston Arkansas AHEC information network with links to 28 hospitals & clinics in 4 states, access, training & kiosks for public access Internet services & AIDS library services for 610 area code in Philadelphia

Examples: Infrastructure & Resource Awards Hospital & its 4 clinics link to Internet & obtain library services through U of Minnesota 10 school-based G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center clinics in Mississippi get computers & Internet access, obtain training support from nearby health sciences library

Integrated Advanced Information System (IAIMS) Grants Focus on integrating data, information and knowledge resources into a comprehensive networked information management system Trans-organizational, cross institution or discipline boundaries Priorities: context appropriate information; standards based information management; digital libraries Partnerships; one-stop shopping

Next-Generation IAIMS Grants PLANNING – focus on 1 or more fundamental activity areas; 2 years, $150,000/yr PILOT STUDY – seed money; 2 years, $50,000/yr TESTING & EVALUATION – deploy/test a system or service on a limited scale; evaluate an existing system before replacing or upgrading; 2 years, $100,000/yr OPERATIONS – large-scale deployment of an integrated resource or system; prerequisite is plan or T&E study; 4 years, $400,000/yr IAIMS FELLOWSHIP – 2 years, $50,000/yr

Examples of IAIMS Awards New Mexico: Master plan for an integrated health information resource that serves statewide needs California: Data warehouse that integrates scientific & clinical data for a national cancer center & collaborating agencies Cincinnati: Customized organization of all knowledge for an individual

NLM Grant Deadlines Cycle 1Cycle 2Cycle 3 Research, Infrastructure, Resource, Career Grants 1-February1-June1-October Revised Applications 1-March1-July1-November SBIR/STTR1-April1-August1-December Fellowships5-April5-August5-December

Peer Review for NLM Grants Complete PHS 398 application form Center for Scientific Review assigns all applications to a study section and a funding Institute NLM has a standing study section – Biomedical Library & Informatics Review Committee (BLIRC) Some NLM grant applications are reviewed by a Special Emphasis Panel or another NIH study section

Review Steps for NLM Grants REVIEW STEP Received at CSR  1 st Review by BLIRC  2 nd Review by BOR  Final Decision, NLM  TIMETABLE Feb 1 (Jun 1, Oct 1) May (Nov, Mar) – Priority 1 week – Summary 6 week Sept (Feb, Nov (Apr, Aug) – Notice of grant award mailed

Grant Review Outcomes PRIORITY SCORES (most likely to be funded) (sometimes funded) (rarely funded) (never funded except some SBIR) SUCCESS RATES Research grants % for amended applications Resource grants % for amended applications SBIR grants 10%

NIH Review Criteria & Resource Grants CriterionQuestions in Reviewer’s mind Significance Does it address an important problem? Is there evidence of user need? Approach Is the workplan sound? Are potential problems recognized? Is it sustainable after grant ends? Innovation Not required (but admired) Investigator Does the PI have the expertise & FTE to carry it out? Environment Is there adequate infrastructure of networks, technical expertise, library, etc?

Components of Good Proposals Responsive to the program statement or NLM’s research interests Clearly-stated goals and methodology A work plan that fits the stated goals A timeline and milestones References to the published literature, especially for R01

Components of Good Proposals Research grant proposals require a testable hypothesis and/or an accepted, rigorous research methodology For infrastructure & resource grant proposals, responsiveness to the critical review elements is key: audience, plan & timetable, sustainability IAIMS grant proposals should integrate information across organizational boundaries

Components of Good Proposals Evidence of advance planning, ‘interesting’ pilot data or user survey data Key personnel with relevant expertise and adequate FTE dedicated to the work Sincere letters of support from stakeholders Letters of support from named collaborators Agreement letters from named consultants Evidence that problems & contingencies have been considered

Other Helpful Hints DO Observe page and font size limits Request NLM or BLIRC if you want application to come to us for review Print & read program announcement Cover review points DON’T Use URLs to get around the page limits Put information in appendix that is needed to judge merit Request more than ceiling $ without prior approval

For more information Valerie Florance, Ph.D., grant programs, links to application forms, FAQ, lists of funded projects lists all NLM grants