NLM EXTRAMURAL PROGRAM - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

New and aspiring investigators often ask the same questions of experts as proposals are formulated, written, and submitted to the National L ibrary of Medicine (NLM) for peer review. The NLM's Division of Extram ural Programs (EP) provides support to medical libraries, academic med ical centers, individuals, and industry through numerous types of gran ts and contracts. A complex set of processes and procedures is in plac e and is familiar to established and funded researchers, but to few ot hers. A collection of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answe rs on these issues has been prepared by the Biomedical Library Review Committee (BLRC), a standing advisory group to the NLM that meets thre e times a year to review and score proposals. The BLRC and two experts on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants and contracts compiled their advice in an electronic FAQ that has been edited and abridged as an introduction to NLM EP for investigators from medical library scie nce, informatics, and biotechnology. The BLRC expects that if new inve stigators are able to avoid common mistakes and misconceptions, their proposals will improve in quality and they will be able to spend their time more effectively in proposal preparation.