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NLM FY 2008 Grants Funding Policy

NLM supports as many meritorious competing grant applications as possible, maintaining a mix of new grants and new initiatives aligned with its program priorities. In keeping with NIH policy, budgets for awarded grants may be adjusted according to recommendations of the study section, the National Library of Medicine's Board of Regents or the judgment of NLM grant program staff. These adjustments take into consideration the overall scientific and technical merit of the grant application as well as the cost of the proposed research.

Non-Competing Research Grant Awards. NLM abides by NIH policy concerning reductions to pre-existing grant commitments, as outlined in NIH Guide Notice NOT-OD-08-036, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-036.html. Specifically, NLM will provide 1% inflation increase to non-competing awards for FY 2008. This will require a downward adjustment to established commitments, which were based upon 3% inflation factors. This policy applies to both modular and non-modular budgets. This policy does not apply to Career awards (K awards), Individual Fellowships (F37 and F38) or Institutional Training Grants (T-15). Non-competing awards previously issued in 2008 will be adjusted to the level indicated above.

New and Amended Grant Applications. NLM abides by NIH goals to manage uncommitted funds in a way that provides support for both new and seasoned investigators. In FY 2008, research grant award amounts recommended by study section and Council reviewers will be reduced to assure that NIH priorities are met. In FY 2007, the average NLM R01 research grant award was around $300,000 in direct costs per year. The duration of an R01 or P41 grant award will rarely exceed four years. In most circumstances, grants with duration ceilings, including all grants in the "G" series, fellowships, R21 and R03 grants, are awarded for the duration requested.

Grant Applications with budgets greater than $500K. Prior approval is required before submitting a grant application that requests $500,000 or more in direct costs in any one year. This prior approval is required in advance of an electronic submission of a new or revised application. Applicants are strongly urged to control costs in their proposals in order to keep them below this level. Consult with NLM grant program staff for additional information.

New Investigators. NLM encourages new investigators to establish careers in biomedical informatics and bioinformatics. This priority is expressed through special consideration given in scientific merit review, and in funding priority.

Bridge Support. NLM will consider a request for interim support from grantees who were new investigators for their current award and are seeking their first competing renewal, or seasoned investigators whose NLM grant is the primary source of extramural funding. This option is available only in cases where the original competing renewal application falls near but beyond the general payline. The goal of bridge funding is to help successful investigators maintain basic resources until review of a revised application is complete.

Fundable Range. NLM uses Merit Scores rather than percentiles as the basis for award decisions. Applications with scores of 150 or better are the most likely to be funded. Applications with scores between 150 and 170 may be funded, depending on NLM priorities and new investigator status. All grant awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Last reviewed: 30 January 2008
Last updated: 30 January 2008
First published: 04 March 2004
Metadata| Permanence level: Permanence Not Guaranteed