Region 4 Professional Development Awards Year 5 (2025-2026)

The purpose of the Professional Development Award is to 1) strengthen the professional knowledge and experience of individual network members in health data or health information access related services, 2) empower libraries and other organizations to train staff in skills needed to deliver reliable health information, and 3) build professional capacity in support of specific Region 4 Core Aims, the NNLM mission, and the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.

Restrictions apply, review the application instructions carefully.

This award is administered by the University of Utah with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM013732 with the University of Utah

NOTICES:

Human Subject Research Restriction: All research activities included in project applications MUST fall into the category of Exempt Research, which is defined in the Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects §46.104(d). Additional human subjects research requirements may apply.
Institution Tax ID: Applicant must provide the 9-digit tax identification number for your institution. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
Institution Unique Entity ID: Please confirm your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If your organization does not have a UEI, register for one as soon as possible. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
Funded projects are displayed on the publicly accessible NNLM website and are often provided by NLM in response to data requests from NIH, HHS, OMB, Congress, and the White House.
***NEW*** Professional development awards used for speaker fees: There are additional requirements for speaker using public funds. See below section "Important Speaker Requirements"

Funding Summary

Period of Performance: June 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026
Amount: Up to $2,500
Number of Awards Available: 12
Application Deadline: Applications accepted and awarded on a rolling basis until the February 16, 2026, at 5:00 pm MT deadline or when the funds are depleted.
Eligibility: These awards are intended for use by individuals affiliated with NNLM Region 4 member institutions

Important General Information & Requirements:

Awards are cost-reimbursable and:
- May be issued to NNLM member institutions or individuals affiliated with a member institution within Region 4. Check to see if your institution is a member.
- In some cases, awardees are encouraged to have their expenses purchased directly by the University of Utah (airfare, registrations, etc.)
This award is administered through the University of Utah under a Cooperative Agreement with the National Library of Medicine Award Number UG4LM013732
Applicants are NOT required to budget to the maximum amount if the proposal cannot justify it.
Applications that include speaker fees over $1000 MUST sufficiently justify the expense.
The NNLM Region 4 Administration Office provides all subaward agreement or a memorandum of agreement documents for ALL approved projects.
Sub-awardees are NOT to begin their project until the University of Utah has completed and signed all necessary documentation.

Important Speaker Requirements:

Speaker topics MUST be clearly and explicitly be tied to the purpose of the Professional Development Award and support the mission of the NNLM.
Speakers are expected to focus their presentations on helping people access and understand information and help build skills that will improve their ability to make their own decisions. Speakers MUST NOT tell people what is right or wrong, or what a person should or should not do.
Speakers must not be perceived as making political statements. Presenting on controversial topics is allowable, but it MUST focus on information about that topic, such as, how to find it and help people know what to do with it themselves.
Please work with NNLM Region 4 staff if there are questions about the content of a presentation.

Pre-Award Support - We want to learn about your project or activity ideas!

You are strongly encouraged to informally discuss your project with john.bramble@utah.edu, NNLM Region 4 Executive Director, or your state primary point of contact. Of particular interest for the discussion will be:

Learning objective(s),
Expenses,
Timeline,
Short and long term beneficiaries of new knowledge or skill.

Proposal Writing Support

Grant writing aids and tips are available in the NNLM Proposal Writing Toolkit
Evaluation design aids and tips are available at the National Evaluation Center
Funding FAQs

Purpose of the Professional Development Award

Professional development awards are intended to expand beyond the organizations you associate with as a normal part of your profession. For example: MLA and MLA Chapter meetings will not be considered for health science librarians. Other examples of conferences that will not be considered include: ALA, PLA, ARSL, etc. There is a LIS student exemption to this consideration.

NOTE: If your application is for an online professional development activity costing $500 or less, please go directly to the Express Application instructions tab.

Potential Project Ideas

Professional development opportunities such as classes, conferences, or workshops for individuals or groups of individuals associated with NNLM institutional members. Ideas include but are not limited to:

Introduce students to the health sciences, trusted National Library of Medicine (NLM) resources, and develop their professional skills.
Prepare individuals for a leadership position in a hospital or academic health sciences library.
Host a reading club with learning outcomes focusing on health information access issues that can be used to improve library programming that are more impactful to your underrepresented communities.
Costs associated with hosting an NLM Traveling Exhibit
Costs associated with arranging for an expert speaker to give a talk, workshop, class, or lecture.
NOTICE: Applications that include speaker fees over $1000 MUST sufficiently justify the expense.
Educational activities that relate to preparing professionals to better serve underserved, minority, and underrepresented communities.
Learning about data tools and services important to library patrons/users
For those with existing data tools and services skills, learn to train other librarians in these skills.

Notice: Applicants should plan to align their proposal with 1) the Region 4 Core Aims, 2) the mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public's health by providing U.S. researchers, health professionals, public health workforce, educators, and the public with equal access to biomedical and health information resources and data, 3) should demonstrated how it supports the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan.

Award Focus & Impact

Applicants should plan to describe how their PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT activity will improve their ability to provide improved health information access related library services to their communities.

Applicants should consider submitting proposals that supports:

An INDIVIDUAL to attend a workshop, conference, or meeting (example topics - patient safety, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, health information access, data services, etc.). NOTE: Professional development awards are intended to expand beyond the organizations you associate with as a normal part of your profession. For example: MLA and MLA Chapter meetings will not be considered for health science librarians. Other examples of conferences that will not be considered include: ALA, PLA, ARSL, etc. There is a LIS student exemption to this consideration.
NETWORK MEMBER INSTITUTIONS host a CE event, workshop, or speaker (example expenses - speaker fees. reading club materials, funding licenses to online training services, hosting a virtual book club discussing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, etc.)
STUDENTS currently enrolled in a library and information science, iSchool, or health occupations program (this funding is ideal for students interested in exploring health information as a career path or the role that information plays in improving the knowledge of health care providers).
ONLINE CONFERENCES EXPRESS APPLICATION registration costs (under $500) for individuals interested in attending an online workshop, conference, or meeting that meets the purpose and alignment with NNLM and NLM mission and strategic plan. APPLY HERE

Improve access to communities underrepresented in biomedical research

Successful applications will demonstrate how community-based health organizations, public health organizations, and libraries work together in addressing the health information needs of NNLM priority populations (see NNLM Overview, section "Underrepresented Populations" for details).

NNLM Region 4 Core Aims

Project proposals are intended to support the following core aims of NNLM Region 4 program:

Construct a rich culture built on a foundation of inclusive programming designed to attract and engage a diverse regional network.
Use community-driven approaches to increase access to health information.
Work through libraries and other members to support a highly trained workforce in biomedical, health information, and data science resources,

Human Subjects Research Restrictions

All research activities included in project proposals, including Professional Development Applications, MUST fall into the category of Exempt Research, which is defined in the Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects §46.104(d)

Additional human subjects research requirements may apply. All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their institutional review board or contact john.bramble@utah.edu for questions.

NOTICE:

ONLINE CONFERENCES EXPRESS APPLICATION registration costs (under $500) for individuals interested in attending an online workshop, conference, or meeting that meets the purpose and alignment with NNLM and NLM mission and strategic plan. To Apply go to the "Express Application" Tab

Application Format

Applicants are required to use the following proposal outline and submit as a Microsoft Word Document. You may use this Application Template.

Submit your Application

Please submit your application: reg4_funding@lists.utah.edu.

Application Summary

Program/Event Name: Provide the name of the event, program, or educational activity.
Program/Event Dates: Provide the appropriate dates.
Professional Development URL: URL for the exhibit, conference, or professional development you would like to attend or hold, if available.
Amount Requested: The amount specified should not exceed the limit established by the RML/Office. Contact your Region 4 Medical Library if you have questions about the funding amount. Enter the amount to the nearest whole dollar.
Significance/Objectives: Provide a short 1-2 paragraph description that summarizes the proposed program/event. State the goal(s) of the proposed program/event or educational activity and how they align to the NNLM Goals and Objectives. Discuss why this program/event would be necessary or useful for the intended beneficiary.

Express Applications

ONLINE CONFERENCES EXPRESS APPLICATION is designed to support the professional development needs of NNLM Region 4 members. Application may cover registration costs that are under $500, for individuals interested in attending online workshops, conferences, meetings, etc. Request for funds MUST demonstrate how it aligns with NNLM’s mission and NLM’s strategic plan. To Apply see the "Express Application" Tab.

Agreement to comply with required tasks

Include in your application that you acknowledge and agree to:

You will share the information gained with colleagues in your institution/RML/Office as required by the Request for Proposal.
You will submit regular, interim, and final reports, as requested by the funding agency and stipulated in the Request for Proposal.
Any web-based resources developed for this project will ensure accessibility to the greatest possible number of people.
Additional documentation will need to be completed should your project be awarded. Please consult with john.bramble@utah.edu for details.

Member Information

Member Organization: If the reimbursement is NOT going to an individual, identify the institution that will receive funding.
- Primary Contact: If you are the primary contact, list your own name.
- Institution Tax ID: Enter the 9-digit tax identification number for your institution. Check with your Region 4 Medical Library to see if this is a requirement. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
- Institution Unique Entity ID: Please confirm your organization’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If your organization does not have a UEI, register for one as soon as possible.. Check with your Region 4 Medical Library to see if this is a requirement. Professional Development Awards reimbursement requests paid to an individual are excluded.
- Have you/your institution previously received NNLM funding in the current grant cycle? Select Yes, No, or I don’t know.
Populations Served: These should be the primary populations served by the funded activity.
Participant’s Roles: These are the primary roles of the participants of the program/event/educational activity.
Personnel Qualifications: Submit resumes or CVs for personnel listed as attachments with your completed application if appropriate.

NOTE:

Food, promotional items, or furniture are not allowable expenses.
Non-allowable promotional items include but are not limited to: clothing and commemorative items such as pens, mugs/cups, folders/folios, lanyards, and conference bags that are sometimes provided to visitors, employees, grantees, or conference attendees.
Refer to the NIH Policy on Allowability of Costs/Activities.
Applicants are required to limit their expenses based on the Schedule of Allowable Rates for University of Utah Travel.

Budget & Justification Instructions

Applications must include 3-column budget table (or spreadsheet) that includes detailed budget Expense Categories described below, explaining the purpose of each item in the project. You may use the table in this Application Template
- Column 1 will contain the expense title (e.g. Personnel, Consultant Costs, Fees, Travel, Hotel, etc.).
- Column 2 will contain a bulleted list that briefly (1 sentence) describes each item and costs (e.g. under the Equipment category…1) List each equipment item being requested, 2) How it will be used to support the project, and 3) costs per unit multiplied by number of units).
- Column 3 will contain a total cost for item category (e.g. Personnel, Consultant Costs, Fees, Travel, Hotel, etc.).
If a budget line is not applicable for your project, leave it blank.
Enter each amount to the nearest whole dollar.

Expense Categories

You may use the table in this Application Template

The budget estimate should be categorized by the following, as they apply:  

Fees: Any fees associated with the educational activity/program or event. 
Travel: Estimates for travel. Include description and any quotes in the budget table and narrative justification attachments.  
Hotel: Costs associated with lodging. 
Per Diem: Costs associated with meals and incidental expenses. 
Other: Include description and any quotes in the attached budget or as other attachment. 
Other Funding if Applicable: Other funds that will be used to support the project should be specified. This includes matching funds, other grants, etc.

Reporting Requirements

The following reporting requirements is mandatory for Professional Development Award recipients.

Professional Development Award Report must be submitted before the 10th day of the month following the end of the activity.

Awardees are responsible for sharing their professional development experience locally through a newsletter article, presentation, or a mutually agreed upon method with the RML. Awardees are invited to author or coauthor a short post about their experience in the Region 4 News Blog.

For Awards to Organizations (if applicable to Professional Development Award activities):

Activity Reports:

Participant Activity Survey: NLM Required, awardees must provide participants with survey to collect data on activities supported by the award. Awardees must coordinate with their Region 4 Engagement Specialist to set this up prior (allow for at least two weeks lead time) to the activity taking place. This is only applicable for organizations, not individuals.

Participant Activity Survey for Subawardees (PAS-SUB): NLM required data collection and reporting. Learn more about this reporting requirement.

For any questions about reporting, please contact john.bramble@utah.edu.

508 Compliance

Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet as well as internet. The National Library of Medicine is a part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recipients of National Library of Medicine funding through the NNLM must meet all requirements under Section 508. Information on 508 compliance.

NIH Public Access Policy

Recipients of NNLM funding are required to deposit any peer-reviewed manuscript upon acceptance for publication in PubMed Central in accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy.

Data Sharing and Development of Training Materials

To facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and information associated with the NNLM Cooperative Agreement Award, all sub-awardees are required to share any data or training material resulting from funding. This information must be submitted to the following collection sites as applicable:

Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) website;
Other websites specifically designated by the NLM as part of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (considering changes in the project and data repositories required to maintain sharing within the Network).

In addition, recipients of funding are expected to use or adapt existing training materials before developing new materials. Consult with your RML/Office and the NNLM Training Office (NTO) prior to developing materials.

Publication and Copyrighting

Per Section 8.2.1. – Right in Data (Publication and Copyrighting) of the NIH Grants Policy Statement. The NIH must be given a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license for the Federal government to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any materials developed as a result of funding and to authorize others to do so for Federal purposes, i.e. the ongoing development of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Data developed by sub-awardees/consortium participants and consultants are also subject to this policy.

NIH Acknowledgement

Any resources developed with project funds must include an acknowledgement of NIH grant support and a disclaimer.

"This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM013732 with the University of Utah. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health."

Application Review and Scoring Criteria

Reviewers are selected by the RML/Office that is made up of Network members who may represent the Region, public libraries, health sciences libraries, or community organizations.

Reviewers use a standardized RFP scorecard Professional Development Application Scorecard

Reviewers make recommendations for funding to the Executive Director of the RML.

Applicants will receive a copy of reviewer comments along with a final decision regarding funding.

Scored Review Criteria

Scale: 1-25

The application will be scored in the following areas:

Significance (15 points max): Does the proposed program/event/educational activity align well with NNLM Goals and Objectives?  Does the proposal provide a justification for why the activity is needed? Is the proposal appropriate for the intended beneficiary/beneficiaries?
Budget (5 points max):  Is the proposed budget within funding limits? Is the budget justification sound? Does it include money within allowable line items? Do they have line items that account for all the requested money?
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (5 points max): Does the educational activity promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility?
Is the applicant a first-time applicant?

Express Application Instructions

If your proposal is for an online professional development activity costing $500 or less, you may use a streamlined process to apply

PRO TIP: Contact john.bramble@utah.edu if you would like to discuss your proposal idea.

Prepare your proposal with the following information:

What are the primary learning objectives of the activity you hope to meet?

PRO TIP: Find this on conference website.

How do you think the learning objectives will tie into improving access to health information?

PRO TIP: Describe activity’s connection to the provision of health information in about 40-50 words.

Who will benefit after the knowledge gained by attending the professional development experience?

PRO TIP: Describe how you and your key stakeholders will benefit in about 40-50 words.

When is the activity?
What is the registration cost being requested?
When is it due?

Understanding of Agreement

Are You an employee or student of an NNLM Region 4 member institution?
What is the name of your institution?
You will work with the NNLM Region 4 staff to register and pay the registration?
You will attend the event?
You will allow the NNLM Region 4 to promote your award?
You will report on your experience in the required NLM reporting system?

PRO TIP: Most of these are "yes" or "no" responses. If you respond with a "no" response, please explain why.

Email the above to the Region 4 Medical Library by February 16, 2026 or earlier.  Awards are made on a rolling basis until funds are depleted.