1. Fundamentals of NLM Grants National Library of Medicine Extramural Programs Updated 2015

2. Contents of this slide set NLM grant programs overview Grant review & approval process Tips for successful applications Electronic Grants Administration Contact information

3. Informatics Funding at NIH Informatics is NLM’s research domain – Computer/information sciences applied to medicine, biology/biochemistry or public health domain – Basic & applied research NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Initiative supports training and research in biomedical big data science Many other NIH institutes also support biomedical informatics with focus in their mission areas, e.g., NIBIB,NIGMS, NHGRI, NHLBI, NIMH, NCI

4. Types of NLM Grant Programs Research grants – investigator initiated research Resource grants – infrastructure & applied informatics Training support – informatics research training at academic centers Career development support – career support for early career informaticians Grants for small businesses – commercialize good ideas

5. Research Grants Focus on research & development in biomedical or public health informatics, or bioinformatics – Investigator-initiated research grants (R01) – Experimental/developmental research grants (R21) – Conference Grants (R13)

6. Career Support Awards Focus on building the supply of researcher investigators in biomedical/ public health informatics or bioinformatics – NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) – NLM Career Development Award in Biomedical Informatics (K01)

7. Resource Grants Focus on optimizing the management & use of health-related information – NLM Information Resources to Reduce Health Disparities Grants (G08) – Grants for Scholarly Works in Biomedicine & Health (G13)

8. Training & Fellowships University-based Biomedical Informatics research training programs Research Grant Supplements for Diversity and Re-entry Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowships (F 30/F31) NLM Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services in NIH-funded Research Projects

9. Grants for Small Businesses SBIR phase 1 and 2 grants for companies that want to bring a product to market Fast-track – combine phase 1 and 2 in a single application. Requires prior approval by NLM staff Priorities are the same as for research grants in biomedical informatics

10. Multi-Institute Grant Programs NLM also partners with other NIH organizations on grant programs. Examples: – Understanding and Promoting Health Literacy (R01 and R21) – Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) R15 See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep Grant Programs listinghttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep

11. NLM Grant Deadlines Open programs are the same as for other NIH Research Grants – see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionsche dule.htm for dates http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionsche dule.htm RFA deadlines are published in the grant funding announcement, in the NIH Guide

12. Peer Review for NLM Grants Center for Scientific Review (CSR) receives all applications, assigns them to a study section and a funding Institute NLM study sections review most of NLM’s grants – Biomedical Library & Informatics Review Committee (BLIRC) – Special Emphasis Panels (SEP) for some NLM grants Multi-Institute grants in which NLM is a participant, such as SBIR grants, are reviewed by CSR study sections

13. Review Steps for Grants - Example REVIEW STEP Received at CSR  1 st Review by BLIRC  2 nd Review by BOR  Final Decision, NLM  TIMETABLE Feb 5 June – in NIH Commons – Priority scores @ 2 days – Summary statements @ 30 days Sept @ Nov (Apr, Aug) – Exact date varies

14. Grant Review Outcomes PRIORITY SCORES – 10 -30 (most likely to be considered for funding) – 30-35 (sometimes funded, esp. new investigator or early stage investigators R01, or Career Transition grants) – Greater than 35: not likely to be funded

15. NIH Review Criteria for Research Grants CriterionQuestions in Reviewer’s mind Significance Does it address an important informatics problem? How will science or clinical practice be advanced? Approach Is the conceptual or clinical framework sound? Are potential problems discussed? Innovation Are the aims, concepts, methods, outcomes novel? Do they challenge paradigms? Investigator Does the PI/team have appropriate training and experience? Environment Does the study benefit from this scientific/clinical environment?

16. NIH Review Criteria for Resource Grants CriterionQuestions in Reviewer’s mind Significance Is there an expressed need? Benefits for wider audience? Approach Are the FTE/expertise sufficient to the task? Are the timeline & milestones realistic? Are the methods appropriate? Is the evaluation clear and meaningful? Innovation Not required Investigator Does the PI/team have appropriate training and experience? Environment Is there a plan for future support?

17. Components of Good Proposals Responsive to the program announcement and NLM stated priorities Clearly-stated goals and methodology A detailed work plan that fits the stated project goals A timeline and milestones References to publications, placing the work in context of other, similar work and state of the art

18. Components of Good Proposals Evidence of advance planning, e.g., pilot data or user needs assessment Key personnel with relevant expertise and adequate FTE dedicated to the work Evidence that problems & contingencies have been considered Letters of agreement from named collaborators & consultants

19. Other Helpful Hints DO Contact program officer with questions Name the grant program (e.g., PAR 13-300) in appropriate field of application form Register with NIH Commons and grants.gov Use most recent application form & instructions – watch for updates to electronic application!!! DON’T Put information in appendix that is needed to judge merit Request more than $500K/yr without prior written approval by NLM Send the same application to 2 institutes Send the same application at 2 different deadlines

20. Electronic Grants Administration Register with the NIH eRA Commons for access to priority scores and summary statements – Register at https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/ – Both PI and Institutional Official need Commons accounts – eRA Commons registration is REQUIRED for electronic submissions through Grants.gov All NIH grant programs have moved to electronic grant submission. Institution MUST complete all registrations as set out in each funding opportunity announcement prior to an application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more

21. Program points of contact Dr. Valerie Florance – General overall program directions, Informatics training programs and special initiatives. Dr. Hua-Chuan Sim – Clinical and public health informatics in research grants (R01), exploratory/developmental grants (R21), conference grants, career development awards (K01), Pathway to Independence grants (K99). Dr. Jane Ye – Bioinformatics and computational biology in research grants (R01), exploratory/developmental grants (R21), conference grants, career development awards (K01), Pathway to Independence grants (K99). Also responsible for SBIR/STTR grants. Dr. Alan VanBiervliet – Consumer Health Informatics in research grants (R01), exploratory/developmental grants (R21), conference grants, career development awards (K01), Pathway to Independence grants (K99). Also responsible for Informatics Resource and Scholarly Works grants.

22. For more information Program: 301-594-4882 for Sim, VanBiervliet & Ye; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep for program announcements, links to application forms http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/faq.html answers many specific questions http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/faq.html http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/funded.html for list of funded projects http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/funded.html http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/in dex.htm for electronic applications information http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/in dex.htm