NLM Highlighted Topics: Advancing Trustworthy, Reproducible, and Rigorous Biomedical AI is sponsored by National Library of Medicine (NLM) - National Institutes of Health (NIH). NLM supports research in areas including methods to evaluate and benchmark AI for bias, reliability, security, and generalizability; real-world studies of AI deployment and impact; and evaluation of AI safety, trust, and mitigation of inaccuracies in biomedical tools and methods.

National Library of Medicine (NLM) | Grants & Funding U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine (NLM) ICO Funding Policies and Considerations Additional Information by Funding Category The NLM Mission is to support research efforts that contribute to advancements in the field of biomedical informatics and data science, with far-reaching implications for improving health and well-being.

NLM fosters the advancement of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, contributes to biomedical informatics and data science advancement, and develops strategies to improve health. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports research that advances biomedical discovery, clinical care, and public health by strengthening the data, information, and knowledge ecosystems that underpin modern biomedicine.

NLM’s priorities emphasize foundational biomedical informatics, trustworthy and reproducible artificial intelligence (AI), scalable and sustainable data resources, and informatic tools with real-world impact.

NLM supports research in the following areas: Area 1: Advancing Trustworthy, Reproducible, and Rigorous Biomedical AI • Methods to evaluate and benchmark AI for bias, reliability, security, and generalizability • Tools and frameworks for interpretable, explainable, reproducible, and fit-for-purpose AI • Real-world studies of AI deployment and impact • Scalable approaches integrating complex biomedical and health data Area 2: Biomedical Data Infrastructure at Scale • Privacy-preserving data linkage, federation, and integration • Semantic interoperability and metadata harmonization • Risk- and benefit-aware data curation and evaluation frameworks • Standards supporting scalable, interoperable data ecosystems Area 3: Sustainable Biomedical Reference Resources and Platform Science • Methods to enhance usability, access, and discovery • Approaches that support reference datasets, metrics, and frameworks for quality assurance and AI benchmarking • Approaches that support cost-effective, interoperable platform architectures and services • Approaches for monitoring, maintenance, drift detection, and responsible sunsetting Area 4: Biomedical Tools and Methods—Human-Centered Use and Impact • User-centered tools for discovery, navigation, and application of authoritative knowledge • Workflow-integrated and validated AI for research and clinical decision-making • Evaluation of AI safety, trust, and mitigation of inaccuracies • Secure, public-facing tools supporting evidence-based health actions Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs used across government agencies that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards.

They are maintained in the System for Award Management (SAM) and can be used to search for opportunities in Grants. gov . View NLM Assistance Listing Numbers 93.

879 - Medical Library Assistance Highlighted Topics identify timely or emerging research priorities across one or more NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices (ICOs). Use Parent Announcements or other broad NIH opportunities to submit investigator-initiated applications on a topic. While Highlighted Topics do not affect referral or review, some include dedicated funding.

See the Highlighted Topic FAQs NLM Grant Funding Opportunity Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ICO Funding Policies and Considerations Visit NIH Fiscal Policies for NIH-wide information on appropriations and other budgetary information (salary limits, stipends, tuition/fees) and Funding Decisions to learn about NIH's consistent and unified approach for making funding decisions.

NLM Funding Policies and Considerations builds on that general information. Additional Information by Funding Category Administrative Supplements In addition to our Administrative Supplements overview, consider the following NLM-specific information.

Administrative Supplement Interest Areas: The National Library of Medicine prioritizes its budget to maintain support for investigator-initiated research grants at the highest possible level. As a result, there is very limited flexibility to support administrative supplements. Accordingly, requests must be limited to meeting increased costs that are within the scope of the approved award but were unforeseen.

Administrative Supplement Due Dates: Applications may be submitted throughout the fiscal year but should be requested at least 90 days prior to the anticipated need and should be submitted by May 15 for full consideration. Supplements are not awarded Oct-Nov due to fiscal constraints. Administrative Supplement Contact: In addition to our Conferences and Meetings overview, consider the following NLM-specific information.

Conferences and Meetings Interest Areas: The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports high-quality scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops that advance biomedical informatics, bioinformatics, computational biology, data science, health information technology, workforce development, and library and information sciences.

Meetings should align with NLM’s mission to accelerate data-driven discovery, improve access to trustworthy biomedical information, and strengthen the biomedical data science workforce. Areas of interest include standards and interoperability, knowledge representation, trustworthy and transparent AI, data stewardship, information dissemination, and human-centered health information delivery.

Events must foster meaningful scientific exchange and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, librarians, trainees, and other stakeholders. NLM will not support the annual meeting of a professional organization, society, or trade group.

Conferences and Meetings Budget Considerations: While the National Library of Medicine will consider requests for conference support up to $70,000, typical awards have ranged between $10,000 and $25,000. Conferences and Meetings Key Date Considerations: Accepts applications for standard receipt dates. Final funding decisions are often made toward the end of the fiscal year, contingent on the availability of funds.

It is recommended that applicants apply well in advance of meeting/conference date, especially if requesting support to plan the event. Conferences and Meetings Project Period Considerations: Support may be provided for single conferences. NLM will consider support for a series of annual or biannual conferences for up to 5 years.

Continued support depends on programmatic relevance and availability of funds. Conferences and Meetings Contacts: Individual Career Development In addition to our Individual Career Development , consider the following NLM-specific information.

Individual Career Development Interest Areas: The National Library of Medicine (NLM) advances biomedical discovery, data science, and access to health information by supporting NIH career development (K) applicants whose research aligns with NLM’s core scientific priorities in bioinformatics, biomedical data science, and health informatics.

Areas of particular interest include: • Bioinformatics and biomedical data science, including AI/ML for genomic, multi-omics, clinical, and population health analysis • Clinical and translational informatics, integrating clinical, genomic, and real-world data for research and care • Biomedical knowledge representation and discovery, including ontologies, knowledge graphs, information retrieval, and NLP/text mining • Data infrastructure, standards, and interoperability, including FAIR principles, metadata harmonization, and scalable, privacy-preserving ecosystems • Open science and reproducibility, including data sharing, benchmarking, and transparency • Digital health and human-centered informatics, including mobile and consumer health tools that improve access to trustworthy health information • Responsible and ethical data science, including accountability, stewardship, privacy, security, and attention to fairness, transparency, and societal impact Individual Career Development Salary Fringe Benefits: For applicants holding academic appointments (e.g., Assistant Professor, Research Scientist), the proposed salary may not exceed $125,000 for mentored career development awards.

For applicants with no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience, a salary of up to $75,000 per year, plus fringe benefits, is considered appropriate. For K99 applications, a salary of up to $75,000 per year, plus fringe benefits, is allowable during the postdoctoral phase. Individual Career Development Research Effort Considerations: NLM will provide up to $50,000 per year to support research-related costs.

Individual Career Development Contacts: In addition to our Individual Fellowships Overview, consider the following NLM-specific information.

Individual Fellowships Interest Areas: • Bioinformatics and biomedical data science, including AI/ML for genomic, multi-omics, clinical, and population health analysis • Clinical and translational informatics, integrating clinical, genomic, and real-world data for research and care • Biomedical knowledge representation and discovery, including ontologies, knowledge graphs, information retrieval, and NLP/text mining • Data infrastructure, standards, and interoperability, including FAIR principles, metadata harmonization, and scalable, privacy-preserving ecosystems • Open science and reproducibility, including data sharing, benchmarking, and transparency • Digital health and human-centered informatics, including mobile and consumer health tools that improve access to trustworthy health information • Responsible and ethical data science, including accountability, stewardship, privacy, security, and attention to fairness, transparency, and societal impact Individual Fellowships Budget Considerations: Current NRSA stipends, tuition/fees, and budgetary levels apply.

Individual Fellowships Contacts: Institutional Career Development In addition to our Institutional Career Development , consider the following NLM-specific information. Institutional Career Development Interest Areas: NLM does not currently fund Institutional Career Development awards. In addition to our Institutional Training , consider the following NLM-specific information.

Institutional Training Interest Areas: NLM does not currently fund Institutional Training awards. In addition to our Research Education overview, consider the following NLM-specific information. Research Education Interest Areas: NLM is interested in research education (R25) applications that strengthen the biomedical informatics and data science workforce through innovative, short-term training and curriculum development.

NLM has two primary goals: (1) to develop a pipeline of well-trained professionals in biomedical informatics, data science, information science, and related fields; and (2) to ensure curricula meet the growing and evolving demands of the field. Applicants should ensure that the impact of educational programs is rigorously assessed to demonstrate outcomes and inform continuous program improvement.

Short-term training programs (e.g., summer or modular formats throughout the academic year) in biomedical informatics, data science, information science, and related fields, incorporating experiential learning opportunities (e.g., research internships, hands-on projects, team-based science) to build practical informatics skills Development of new or updated biomedical informatics curricula designed for adaptability, generalizability, and dissemination across institutions and educational settings Training that develops core competencies in biomedical informatics and data science (e.g., data management, analysis, interpretation, and responsible data use) Training in open science practices, data sharing, reproducibility, and FAIR data principles Programs that broaden participation and expand reach to areas with limited biomedical informatics or data science training opportunities Interdisciplinary training that integrates informatics with biomedical, clinical, or public health domains Activities that increase awareness of and preparation for educational and career pathways in biomedical informatics and related fields Research Education Participants: NLM prioritizes funding for participants in the following areas: Community college students Post-baccalaureate students Research Education Project Period Considerations: NLM may limit project periods for specific education activities, as follows: Applicants should propose project durations consistent with the scope of the proposed education activities.

Research Education Budget Considerations: NLM may limit budgets for specific education activities, as follows: Up to $250,000 in direct costs for R25 Education Projects focused on research experiences. Up to $250,000 in direct costs for R25 Education Projects focused on curriculum, courses, and methods development. Requested budgets should reflect the scope and needs of the proposed project.

Research Education Funding Instruments: NLM awards Research Education Cooperative Agreements (UE5) NLM awards Research Education Grant Projects (R25) Research Education Contacts: In addition to our Small Business overview, consider the following NLM-specific information.

Small Business Interest Areas: The NLM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program supports the development of biomedical informatics tools and methods which are best disseminated through commercialization.

The program aims to encourage small businesses to develop innovative technologies, tools, methods, and software platforms that advance: Trustworthy, reproducible, and rigorous biomedical AI Biomedical data infrastructure at scale Sustainable biomedical reference resources and platform science Market innovative human-centered use and impact informed biomedical informatics tools and methods Applications which utilize, integrate, or build upon data, resources, and tools fostered by NLM and NIH supported communities are encouraged.

Approved Topics for Awards Over Statutory Budget Guidelines: NLM does not accept budget cap waiver requests.

Phase IIB & Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP): NLM does not accept Phase IIB SBIR projects NLM does not accept Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) projects NLM accepts clinical trials through the SBIR programs NLM accepts clinical trials through the STTR programs NLM does not accept clinical trials through the Phase IIB SBIR program NLM does not accept clinical trials through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) National Library of Medicine (NLM) For technical issues E-mail OER Webmaster