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

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

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Library of Medicine
Amount: US $2,500
Last Updated: February 07, 2026

Summary

The Region 4 Professional Development Awards for 2025-2026 foster the growth of health information access and data science skills among network members. This funding supports diverse projects such as workshops, conferences, and educational activities aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of individuals affiliated with NNLM Region 4. By encouraging proposals that address the needs of underrepresented communities, the awards aim to improve health information services and access across the region.

Overview

NOTE: Applications accepted and awarded on a rolling basis until the deadline. You are strongly encouraged to contact john.bramble@utah.edu, NNLM Region 4 Executive Director or your state primary point of contact, to discuss your project. Purpose of the Professional Development Award The purpose of this funding is to strengthen the professional knowledge and experience of individual network members within Region 4 in data science or health information access/delivery, build professional capacity in support of the mission of the NNLM, and enable libraries and other organizations to train staff in skills needed to deliver reliable health information. 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. 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 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 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility and prepare professionals to better serve underserved, minority, and underrepresented communities. 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 support: An INDIVIDUAL to attend a workshop, conference, or meeting (example topics - patient safety, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, health information access, data services, etc.).NETWORK MEMBER INSTITUTIONS to 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 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 through effective membership management.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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. These awards are intended for use by individuals affiliated with NNLM Region 4 member institutions.Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, WyomingAwards are cost-reimbursable and:May be issued to NNLM member institutions or individuals affiliated with a member institution within Region 4. 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 UG4LM013732Applicants are NOT required to budget to the maximum amount if the proposal cannot justifyApplications 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.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) You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.

Ineligibility

Food, promotional items and furniture are not allowable expenses.