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 http://www.nlm.nih.gov

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

http://nnlm.gov 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 http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov

Toxtown – an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov

HazMap – information on hazardous chemicals and occupational diseases http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/

NLM Specialized Information Services (SIS)

Outreach Activities & funding opportunities– http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/Main/Outreach.html

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 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3

Research, Infrastructure,

Resource, Career Grants

1-February 1-June 1-October

Revised Applications

1-March 1-July 1-November

SBIR/STTR 1-April 1-August 1-December

Fellowships 5-April 5-August 5-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 1st Review by BLIRC

2nd Review by BOR

Final Decision, NLM

TIMETABLE Feb 1 (Jun 1, Oct 1) May (Nov, Mar)

– Priority scores @ 1 week– Summary statement @ 6 week

Sept (Feb, May)

@ Nov (Apr, Aug)– Notice of grant award mailed

Grant Review Outcomes

PRIORITY SCORES 100-150 (most likely to be

funded) 150-200 (sometimes

funded) 200-250 (rarely funded) 250- 500 (never funded

except some SBIR)

SUCCESS RATES Research grants - @ 20-

25%; @ 30% for amended applications

Resource grants - @ 25-30%; @ 50% for amended applications

SBIR grants - @ 10%

NIH Review Criteria & Resource Grants

Criterion Questions 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., 301-594-4882 Floranv@mail.nlm.nih.gov

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep grant programs, links to application forms, FAQ, lists of funded projects 1997-2002

http://crisp.cit.nih.gov lists all NLM grants