NLM FY 2013 Grants Funding Plan
Introduction
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), in Bethesda, Maryland, is a part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Since its founding in 1836, NLM has played a pivotal role in translating biomedical research into practice. It is the world's largest biomedical library and the developer of electronic information services that deliver trillions of bytes of data to millions of users every day. For more about the library’s mission and organization, see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/nlm.html.
NLM’s Extramural Programs Division provides grants to support basic and applied research in biomedical informatics, health information sciences, bioinformatics and public health informatics, as well as for research training in these areas. Applied Informatics resource grants assist in improving information access and services for health professionals and the public. Support is also available for scholarly works on biomedical topics.
Budget Data FY 2013
Current Appropriation: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including NIH, operates under a Continuing Resolution (CR) (H. J. Resolution 117) that was signed by President Obama as Public Law 112-175 on September 28, 2012. The CR continues government operations through March 27, 2013 at the FY 2012 level plus 0.6 percent.
Until FY 2013 appropriations are enacted, NLM will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level). This is consistent with our practice during the CRs of FY 2006 - 2012. Upward adjustments to awarded levels will be considered after our FY 2013 appropriations are enacted but NLM expects institutions to monitor their expenditures carefully during this period. All legislative mandates that were in effect in FY 2012 remain in effect under the CR, including the salary limitation set at Executive Level II of the Federal Pay Scale ($179,700), which was effective with grant awards with an initial Issue Date on or after December 23, 2011 (see NOT-OD-12-034 and NOT-OD-12-035). For the full text of the announcement see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-002.html. Questions regarding adjustments applied to individual grant awards may be directed to the Grants Management Specialist identified on the Notice of Award.
Funding Strategy: NLM supports as many meritorious competing grant applications as possible, across the array of grant programs it offers. General funding guidelines are established each year based on appropriated funds available. Final award decisions reflect considerations of program relevance, portfolio balance, recommendations of the NLM Board of Regents, and availability of funds. In keeping with NIH policy, budgets for awarded grants may receive programmatic or administrative adjustments. These adjustments take into consideration the overall scientific and technical merit of the grant application as well as the appropriateness of the requested budget. Although NLM’s training authority is not part of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs, stipends and other details of NLM’s training programs are modeled upon NRSA.
Fundable Range: NLM uses the overall Impact Score as the primary basis for award decisions on all grant types, along with innovation and potential impact. For experienced investigators, applications with Impact scores 30 or better are the most likely to be funded. For Early Stage Investigators and New Investigators seeking their first R01 research grant, and for K award applicants, applications with Impact scores of 38 or better will be considered for funding. All grant awards are subject to the availability of funds. NLM continues to support new investigators on R01 equivalent grants at rates equal to those of established investigators submitting new applications, per NIH policies outlined at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-013.html and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm.
