Network of the National Library of Medicine Regional Medical Libraries (UG4 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Regional Medical Libraries grant is a forecasted funding opportunity issued by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health. This initiative is grounded in the Medical Library Assistance Act of 1965 and is structured to support institutions that will serve as Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs) within the NNLM framework. The RMLs are vital to achieving the NNLM’s mission: enhancing access to health information and biomedical data and promoting engagement with the resources offered by the NLM and broader NIH community. Originally established in 1965, the NNLM has evolved into a nationally coordinated system that supports public access to trustworthy health information. The network includes three key components: the Network Coordinating Center (NCC), the Regional Medical Libraries (RMLs), and the Network Training Center (NTC). This funding opportunity specifically concerns the RMLs, which are tasked with recruiting and engaging a diverse membership of organizations that focus on health information access, data literacy, and outreach. The RMLs play a strategic role in disseminating research findings, fostering collaboration, and supporting local engagement in NIH initiatives, including clinical research participation. Awardees under this opportunity will be expected to work in collaboration with both the NCC and NTC to promote NLM and NIH resources and activities. RMLs will also evaluate the network’s impact using standardized metrics and will contribute to identifying and addressing regional training needs. Institutions vying for this funding should have demonstrated strength in maintaining partnerships, expertise in biomedical data, and institutional links to health science libraries. Emphasis is placed on expanding awareness and utilization of NIH information resources and building community engagement at a regional level. Eligible applicants span a wide range of organizational types, including nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, higher education institutions (both public and private), for-profit organizations, small businesses, local and tribal governments, regional organizations, public housing authorities, and faith-based groups. The opportunity offers an estimated total program funding of $4.2 million, with up to 7 awards anticipated. The award ceiling is set at $600,000, and while no floor is specified, matching or cost-sharing requirements are not imposed. The forecast indicates that the funding opportunity will be officially posted on August 15, 2026, with applications due by December 15, 2026. The award announcements and start of the project period are both projected for July 1, 2027. This opportunity is not open for clinical trial proposals and is categorized under health-related funding activities. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov for the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once published. Additional contact can be made via the program’s designated email: NLMProgram@nih.gov. While the program notice does not outline specific application components or review criteria, applicants are advised to prepare for a cooperative agreement structure that emphasizes collaboration, coordination, and performance measurement. The program is structured for annual recurrence, and future cycles will likely follow a similar timeline based on this forecasted round.