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Introduction |
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PAR Number: PAR-02-081
Release Date: 03-15-02
Expiration Date: 03-15-05, unless reissued |
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Scope and Priorities |
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Purpose
The National Library of Medicine provides IAIMS grants to health-related institutions and organizations that seek assistance for projects to plan, design, test and deploy systems and techniques for integrating data, information and knowledge resources into a comprehensive networked information management system that serves the organization's clinical, research, educational and administrative needs. Integrated advanced information systems (IAIMS) are organization-wide or trans-organizational mechanisms that use computer networks to link and relate the published biomedical knowledge base with individual and institutional databases and information files, within and external to an institution.
The Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS) program described in this Program Announcement is a substantially revised version of the NLM's existing IAIMS program, first announced in 1982 and substantially revised in 1992. Because health-related organizations exhibit considerable variation in their approach to information management, NLM's IAIMS program offers several options for grant support: IAIMS Planning Grants, IAIMS Pilot Study Grants, IAIMS Testing and Evaluation Grants, IAIMS Operations Grants and IAIMS Fellowships. This program announcement describes only the IAIMS Operations Grant. For information about other IAIMS grants, see their individual program announcements .
Research Objectives
The Internet, advanced computing technologies, and digital information have altered the information landscape. With access to data, information and knowledge no longer time- and place- dependent, new opportunities are emerging to improve health care, education and research. To benefit from these advances, health-related organizations must (1) seamlessly integrate their own digital information resources with relevant information obtained from external sources, and (2) bring digital information to health care teams, researchers, teachers, students, patients and the general public in a way supports sound decisions and effective action.
The long-term goal of NLM's IAIMS program is a comprehensive and convenient information management system, one that brings useful, usable knowledge to action settings in health care, education and research. Particular emphasis is placed on organization-wide and trans-organizational mechanisms that enable the easy flow of information between arenas of action, such as between health care and education, or between health-related organizations, such as from a community clinic to a hospital or public health department.
Since 1984, NLM has provided IAIMS grants to academic health sciences centers to build networks and organizational mechanisms for information management. In its first two decades, the emphasis of IAIMS was building organizational mechanisms and infrastructure that were largely internal to academic centers. Technological advances and widespread access to the Internet make it possible now to shift the emphasis of IAIMS from building these capabilities to using them. The IAIMS challenge for the 21st century is to involve all kinds of health-related organizations in using local and national networks to acquire, manage, and deliver knowledge in a way that binds it to effective action. See References below.
The fundamental activity areas of today's IAIMS program are these:
CONTEXT-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION. People need usable, useful health information to guide their learning and decisions. Health care, education and research take place today in an information space fed by many sources of digital and printed information, some of which are not owned by an organization. Each organization must implement approaches that select the right subset of information from the available sources, and present it in the way most effective for a given problem and person. Examples of context-appropriate systems include:
- systems that deliver applicable 'chunks' of published knowledge into settings in which clinical decisions are being made;
- systems that employ user profiles to tailor information resources or services to meet the needs of a key audience;
- systems that enable the exchange of data between research databanks and clinical health records;
- education modules that are delivered into workplace settings.
STANDARDS-BASED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. Integrated access to a collection of information resources and services (one-stop shopping) has always been a core purpose of IAIMS. Effective integration of data, information and knowledge requires common syntax and semantics. Health organizations must use common vocabularies and adopt information standards that support the integration and exchange of health information. Examples of standards-based information management include:
- standards-based applications that move clinical data from one proprietary system to another;
- systems that use components of the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS®) to link library information to personal health records;
- systems that employ accepted standard data definitions in transmitting claims information or other reports electronically.
DIGITAL LIBRARIES. The phrase 'digital library' refers to a collection of information, data or knowledge, stored on a computer and accessible across a network to other local and distributed computers. Examples of digital libraries include collections of electronic published articles and books, electronic personal health records, multimedia curriculum materials, research databanks and data warehouses of administrative or clinical information. The complex array of activities in academic health sciences centers and health care organizations can result in poorly- integrated information resources and services. Departmental and organizational boundaries can impede the flow of usable, useful information (1) between centers of activity within a single organization (such as between 2 health professions schools), or (2) among unaffiliated organizations, (such as departments at different universities or a community consortium of hospitals). Organizations must implement approaches that facilitate the use of information acquired in one arena of action, such as clinical care, by people in another arena, such as research.
Information management includes such functions as: methods of stewardship that assure the availability of useful, usable, accurate information; tools that allow authorized people to use information retrospectively and prospectively, in real time, for their chosen purposes; links from the organization's knowledge store to knowledge that is external (i.e., not owned by the organization); evaluation of the costs and benefits to users of an information resource or service. Work in any fundamental IAIMS activity area requires the adoption of efficient, effective strategies for information management. A discussion of pertinent information management issues and processes is a required component of all IAIMS applications.
Applicants are encouraged to propose IAIMS projects that include more than one institution, or include organizations of different types such as hospitals, clinics, community centers and local government health departments. While more complex, such collaborative projects give desirable economies of scale, affect greater numbers of users, and take advantage of network technological advancements. IAIMS grants are not sequential grants. However, some IAIMS grants do have prerequisites. Please see the program details for each grant in the IAIMS program. Organizations may apply for more than one type of IAIMS grant at the same time, but those applications will compete against one another for funds.
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Special Requirements For IAIMS Operations Grants |
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The goal and intended outcome of the IAIMS operations grant is a large-scale, functioning resource, system or service that addresses one or more of the fundamental IAIMS activity areas, crossing areas of activity or organizational boundaries. Upon preparing a written plan, either through a planning activity or testing & evaluation activity, an institution may apply for an IAIMS Operations grant to support organization wide or multi-organization deployment of an information resource, system or service. The IAIMS Operations grant can include periods of pilot testing and evaluation, but a written plan must be submitted as a component of the application. An application for an IAIMS operations grant will not be accepted without this background documentation, which is used in the assessment of organizational readiness and commitment. The planning or testing evaluation activity that leads to the plan need not have been undertaken with NLM funding, but should adhere to the general guidelines outlined for IAIMS Planning or IAIMS Testing & Evaluation projects, as described in the program statements for those grants.
The desired outcome for an IAIMS Operations Grant is a functioning resource, system or service that addresses one or more of the fundamental activity areas of IAIMS. An IAIMS Operations Grant application should cover the following points:
- Description of the resource, system or service to be deployed;
- The scale of the deployment, intended users and expected benefits;
- How staff and users will learn to use the system or resource;
- The evaluation data to be collected on a regular basis and how they will be used;
- A timetable and milestones for the project;
- The extent of institutional support and commitment for the resource, system or service;
- Roles for the library, informatics and other information organizations;
- How the system, resource or service will be managed and funded when grant funding ends;
- How public access to findings and results will be disseminated, e.g., web site, presentations and publications, open source software, etc.
- Discussion of pertinent information management issues and processes is required.
Due to the length and complexity of IAIMS operations proposals, successful applicants will be expected to host a site visit from NLM program staff during second year of the IAIMS Operations Grant. A review of progress, goals, milestones and timeline for completion will be discussed during the visit. The IAIMS Operations Grant is non-renewable.
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Eligibility |
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Eligible Institutions
You may submit (an) application(s) if your institution has any of the following characteristics:
- Domestic for-profit or non-profit organizations
- Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories
- Units of State and local governments
- Eligible agencies of the Federal government
- Faith-based organizations
Organizations that were funded in the past for IAIMS planning, model development or implementation activities under the earlier IAIMS program are eligible to apply for any IAIMS grant. Any eligible applicant may apply for an IAIMS Operations grant, but any applicant who has already received an IAIMS Operations grant should consult NLM before applying for another. Applications which seek continuation funding for activities initiated under the earlier IAIMS Phase 2 grant program will not be considered.
Individuals Eligible To Become Principal Investigators
Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.
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Mechanism of Support |
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This PA uses the NIH G08 award mechanism. As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project. Applicants may request up to $400,000 per year for up to four years. Only direct costs are supported. All IAIMS grants support direct costs for salary, consultants, equipment and software costs, training costs, travel, supplies and other expenses appropriate to the project. Facilities and Administration (F&A) costs are not provided for IAIMS Operations grants. Consortium/subcontractual costs are treated as direct costs to the parent grant and, therefore, must be within the total direct cost cap established for this program.
This PA uses just-in-time concepts (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/jit.pdf ). It uses the non-modular budgeting format (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm). Follow the instructions for non-modular research grant applications. |
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Review Criteria |
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The goals of NIH-supported research are to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. In the written comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of your application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals:
- Significance
- Approach
- Innovation
- Investigator
- Environment
The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria in assigning your application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate for each application. Your application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, you may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.
(1) SIGNIFICANCE: Does your study address an important problem? If the aims of your application are achieved, how do they advance scientific knowledge? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive this field?
(2) APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Do you acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?
(3) INNOVATION: Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims original and innovative? Does your project challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
(4) INVESTIGATOR: Are you appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to your experience level as the principal investigator and to that of other researchers (if any)?
(5) ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed experiments take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?
ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:
- PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals, or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely affected by the project proposed in the application.
- INCLUSION: The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research. Plans for the recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. (See Inclusion Criteria included in the section on Federal Citations, below)
- DATA SHARING: The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data.
- BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research.
OTHER REVIEW CRITERIA
Critical review elements for an IAIMS Operations Grant include the following:
- Responsiveness to one or more of the stated IAIMS fundamental activity areas;
- Trans-organizational scale, scalability and transferability;
- Institutional readiness as evidenced by the written plan;
- Evidence of functioning institutional information management mechanism;
- Proposed resource, system or service that crosses boundaries, i.e., spans two or more organizations, or arenas of action;
- Clearly defined responsibilities for the health sciences library, informatics and other appropriate information units.
While not required, the following elements are viewed as highly desirable by reviewers of IAIMS Operations Grants:
Involvement of another organization, such as a historically black college or university, public health department, or community-based organization; Emphasis on system, resource or service that delivers information gathered in one area (e.g. health care) into an application setting in another (e.g. research); Delivery of direct information services to a new audience, such as consumers and patients, or researchers; Incorporation of NLM resources such as MEDLINE®/PubMed®, Entrez, UMLS®, TOXNET®, ClinicalTrials.gov; Use of NLM products such as UMLS®; Attention to NLM priorities as expressed in NLM's 2000-2005 Long Range Plan, including: Benefits underserved rural or inner-city populations; Contributes to the elimination of health disparities.
A discussion of pertinent information management issues and processes is a required component of all IAIMS applications.
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Award Criteria |
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Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
- Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review
- Availability of funds
- Relevance to program priorities
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Application Receipt Dates |
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Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines, which are available at Grant Application Receipt, Review, and Award Cycles. Application deadlines are also indicated in the PHS 398 application kit. |
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Application & Process |
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Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001). The PHS 398 is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.
SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and five signed photocopies in one package to:
Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service)
APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by or mailed before the receipt dates described for new grants at NLM Application Receipt, Review, and Award Cycles . The CSR will not accept any application in response to this PA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. The CSR will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed. This does not preclude the submission of a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the previous critique. |
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Peer Review Process |
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Applications submitted for this PA will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines. An appropriate scientific review group convened in accordance with the standard NIH peer review procedures ( http://www.csr.nih.gov/refrev.htm ) will evaluate applications for scientific and technical merit. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:
- Receive a written critique
- Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
- Receive a second level review by the appropriate national advisory council or board
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Contact Information |
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We encourage your inquiries concerning this program and welcome the opportunity answer questions from potential applicants.
Direct questions about scientific/research issues to:
Dr. Valerie Florance
Division of Extramural Programs
National Library of Medicine
Rockledge One, Suite 301
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 594-4882
Fax: (301) 402-2952
E-mail: floranv@mail.nih.gov |
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