All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program

What is the All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program?

The All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program (hereafter referred to as the “Academic Libraries Program”) will encourage academic libraries at participating institutions to learn about the All of Us Researcher Workbench dataset and may enhance their skills in biomedical and public health data, as well as their library's research capacity, through engaging in an exciting community-learning cohort. In addition to these learning opportunities, participating institutions will be eligible for capacity building funding awards up to $40,000 to support their data-related infrastructure and research capacity needs.

Through the provision of the Academic Libraries Program, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) aims to provide opportunities to build and strengthen the research capacity of libraries at institutions with a historic and current commitment to, or track record of, educating underrepresented students. NIH defines “Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise” in the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity.

Institutions that have a track record of successfully training diverse researcher populations, including those at HBCUs (i.e., institutions described in section 4(b) of Executive Order 14041 (incorporating by reference the institutions listed in 34 C.F.R. 608.2)) and other minority-serving institutions, are also encouraged to apply.

Information Sessions

Two information sessions will be offered to review Academic Libraries Program activities, deliverables, application requirements, and eligibility. One of the sessions geared towards administrators will focus on the benefits of the Academic Libraries Program to the institution and the campus community. Those seeking administration support are encouraged to invite their leadership to the administrator session. Registration is required to attend these sessions. Sessions will be recorded and made available at a later date. Closed captioning and ASL will be provided for the sessions and the recordings.

All of Us Program - Information Session for Applicants
Recorded Wednesday, September 6th
Watch now  View the slides (.pdf)

All of Us Program - Information Session for Institutional Administrators
Wednesday, September 13th at 1 p.m. ET

Additional Information

Why Should Your Institution Participate in the Academic Libraries Program?

Libraries are at the Center of your Campus Community

The library is the center of the campus community, an entity already well situated to respond to the needs of academic institutions for data-driven research. Libraries can provide access to a diverse, longitudinal dataset, utilize training materials to assist campus communities, introduce the All of Us database to researchers from various disciplines, and, with the right training, provide basic instruction in applied data science skills to early career and seasoned researchers, faculty, and students.

Libraries Provide Access to Data-Driven Research

Data-driven research continues to be a priority for academic institutions. The All of Us Research Program dataset offers access to a diverse, longitudinal dataset that can be used by students, faculty, and researchers. This is especially important for campuses that do not have access to other robust biomedical and public health datasets, however any campus will benefit to All of Us data access. This dataset includes biological and social determinants of health data on a large, inclusive scale, that follows participants as they move, age, and grow, making it appropriate for researchers in both the medical/health and social sciences.

The All of Us Researcher Workbench, where the dataset is located, is a cloud-based platform and data browser that allows users to explore aggregate data, including survey responses, physical measurements, electronic health record information, and mobile health data (from wearable devices). Registered users can dive deeper into the data; conduct rapid, hypothesis-driven research; and build new methods for the future using a variety of tools.

Libraries Serve as Facilitators to Research

Researchers with access to the All of Us Researcher Workbench in turn have the potential to facilitate studies leading to new insights, treatments, and strategies for disease prevention that are tailored to individuals. Access to this robust dataset along with training materials and resources from the library may

  • increase the research capacity for your institution,
  • increase academic publication rates, grant awards, and research activity, and
  • potentially lead to higher research designations.

Academic Libraries Program Details

  • Academic Libraries Program Benefits

    Library workers at up to 10 participating institutions will be provided a blend of professional development training, hands-on learning, peer-to-peer networking, and Academic Libraries Program implementation in one dynamic series.

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    Activities will include:

    • Monthly cohort meetings

    • Four Researcher Workbench - Basics trainings

    • Basic Coding Training series using R software, with take-away materials and train-the-trainer resources

    • Data Engagement Activities Training series, including a deep dive into how to conduct these activities with your campus community

    Trainings will be tailored to the library worker audience. They will be presented in a train-the-trainer format designed to facilitate libraries to share information and trainings on the All of Us Researcher Workbench that encourage student, faculty, and researcher engagement in their campus communities.

    Institutions in the Academic Libraries Program are eligible for a Capacity Building Award up to $40,000 for participation in this program. Awards will be provided directly to participating libraries at eligible academic institutions once program requirements are met. This award will be administered by ORAU, on behalf of the National Library of Medicine. This is not a research or training grant, and therefore any National Institutes of Health grant-negotiated rates do not apply.

    Funding awards can be used for a variety of purposes that best serve the institution. Funding awards should be used to build research capacity for use of the All of Us Researcher Workbench and conducting biomedical and public health data science research on campus communities.

    Some potential uses of this award include:

    • Computers and accessories
    • Cloud space to use the All of Us Researcher Workbench
    • Personnel
    • Data Engagement Activities
    • Laptop Lending
    • Other equipment, technology, software acquisition, and computing costs to increase capacity to use the All of Us Researcher Workbench
    • Secure, encrypted Wi-Fi hotspots
    • Workstation creation for physical access to the All of Us Researcher Workbench at campus library/libraries
    • Additional education, tutorials, or trainings for R, Python, and/or SQL for library workers and campus community members

  • Eligibility

    The applicant must be the institutional library. Multiple libraries from the same institution may apply jointly. Only one application per institution is eligible for selection.

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    To complete the application, an Academic Libraries Program Administrator from the institution must be selected. This individual is encouraged to reside within a participating library and/or administrative position that can support key decision making regarding the Capacity Building Award. The Academic Libraries Program Administrator will also be highly involved in developing a proposed budget plan for the Capacity Building Award and in leading communications with the Academic Libraries Program Manager.

    To be eligible for the Academic Libraries Program, institutions must meet the following criteria:

    • Be an accredited U.S. Institution.
    • Be a library within an institution with a historic and current commitment to, or track record of, educating underrepresented students.
      • NIH defines “Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise” in the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity.
      • Institutions that have a track record of successfully training diverse researcher populations, including those at HBCUs (i.e., institutions described in section 4(b) of Executive Order 14041 (incorporating by reference the institutions listed in 34 C.F.R. 608.2)) and other minority-serving institutions, are also encouraged to apply.
    • Your institution or organization must have a Data Use and Registration Agreement (DURA) in place with All of Us or be willing to establish one with All of Us. Institutional DURA status can be confirmed on the All of Us Research Hub .

      If your institution or organization does not have a DURA, you may still apply. However, it will impact your eligibility to participate and receive funding if a DURA is not in place by March 2024.

      Institutional DURA status can be confirmed on the All of Us Research Hub .

  • Academic Libraries Program Requirements

    The Academic Libraries Program includes two phases of activities called the 1) Development Phase and 2) Engagement Phase. Participating institutions will have the opportunity to position their library or libraries as a place for biomedical and public health data knowledge, skills, and abilities to flourish. This will be accomplished by increasing data skills and knowledge of library workers, building, and strengthening research capacity through technology and software, creating instructional library resources, and promoting the All of Us data set throughout the campus community.

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    • Over the course of the Academic Libraries Program, the institution must:
      • Obtain a signed Data Use and Registration Agreement (DURA) no later than March 2024, if one is not already in place.
      • Complete an online questionnaire to determine the institutional research capacity and infrastructure needs.
      • Develop a plan for data engagement activities with Budget Plan and attend necessary meetings. Specifically, institutions must:
        • Develop a Data Engagement Plan
        • Develop a Budget Plan for spending the Capacity Building Award, including specific funding areas for data engagement activities
        • Attend a pre-award budget meeting to review Budget Plan and answer program staff questions
        • Complete and submit final Budget Plan.
      • Develop and promote a resource (such as a LibGuide) on institutional library website to raise awareness and increase interest in the Researcher Workbench.
    • Over the course of the Academic Libraries Program, a minimum of one (1) participating library worker must:
      • Obtain access to the Researcher Workbench and complete a Data User Code of Conduct (DUCC). A signed DURA must be in place to access the Researcher Workbench.
      • Attend monthly cohort meetings.
      • Complete all trainings, including a:
        • Researcher Workbench Basics trainings (Four 1-hour sessions)
        • Basic Coding Training series using R software, with take-away materials and train-the-trainer resources (Two 4-hour workshops, one 1-hour session)
        • Data Engagement Activities Training series, including a deep dive into how to conduct these activities with your campus community.

    It is estimated that a participating library worker will require an average of 15-20 hours of time per month over the course of the Academic Libraries Program, however not all months will require this level of participation. These are estimated hours only and will be dependent on each individual institution and participating staff, as well as the timing of program activities and trainings. We will encourage institutions to work together in a collaborative cohort environment to accomplish tasks.

     

  • Timeframe for Participation

    The Academic Libraries Program will run from October 2023 until September 2024. Participation will be virtual through web-based meetings and trainings. The Academic Libraries Program will accomplish this through two phases of activities called the 1) Development Phase and 2) Engagement Phase. ORAU aims to provide the Development Phase from October 2023 to March 2024 and the Engagement Phase from April 2024 to September 2024. Additional opportunities are planned in late 2024 and 2025 to provide opportunities for professional development and promotion of completed projects and program impacts.

  • Application and How to Apply

    Applications must be submitted by the application deadline through ORAU’s PeerNet system.

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    Applications must be submitted by the application deadline through ORAU’s PeerNet system. Applicatations for 2023 are now closed.

    For a job aid with information about the application and how to complete it, visit the Job Aid for Applying to the All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program (PDF, 1.1MB).

    A complete application consists of the following items:

    1. Institution and Participating Library(ies) Information, including point of contact for the application.
    2. Academic Libraries Program Administrator Information - As part of the application process, each institution should designate one individual to be the All of Us Libraries Program Administrator for their campus(es). This person is encouraged to reside within a participating library and/or administrative position that can support key decision making regarding the Capacity Building Award. Academic Libraries Program Administrator contacts can be changed or modified upon selection for the program.
    3. Number of Participants – Institutions should indicate the number of individuals expected to participate in the Academic Libraries Program, along with names and institutional email addresses. At minimum, one (1) library worker from your institution must participate in the Academic Libraries Program and complete all program requirements (e.g., trainings, cohort meeting attendance, access to Researcher Workbench).
    4. Application questions consist of four narrative prompts about the potential impact of the Academic Libraries Program on your library/campus community:
      • What is the expected impact on your library and library staff?
      • What is the expected impact on your campus community, including students, administration, faculty, and/or researchers?

      • Describe your library/campus community’s data readiness based on the following three elements – People, Process, and Data Management.

        *Please note, the Academic Libraries Program is intended to build capacity for data readiness at your institution. Institutions are not required to be data ready or to have these elements already in place. Applicants who feel they are not data ready are encouraged to apply.

        • People: the expertise, receptivity, and commitment to using data among administrators, faculty, and staff.
        • Process: the interactions among people and guidelines necessary to ensure that data are shared widely, and processes are in place to produce information that the institution can use.
        • Data Management: storing and retrieving information and how information that is critical to the institution becomes transparent through data management.
    5. How will the Academic Libraries Program enhance your institution’s ability to train and support Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise?
    6. One (1) Letter of Commitment - A letter of commitment from the Director or Dean of your institutional library or information center is required. The letter should consist of a statement supporting Academic Libraries Program participation at the institution level, commitment to a minimum of one (1) library worker’s participation in Academic Libraries Program trainings and meetings, and commitment to completing all program requirements, including a signed institutional DURA no later than March 2024. A signed uploaded letter on institutional letter head is preferred. An email from the Director or Dean of your institutional library or information center may also be accepted. Emailed letters must be directed to NLMAllofUs@orau.org from an official institutional email address with a full signature block.

     

  • Application Selection

    ORAU will review applications for eligibility and completeness. Applications will then be reviewed by a review committee, who will make final selections based on reviewer results. ORAU will notify applicants if they are selected for the Academic Libraries Program in mid-October 2023.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

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    A minimum of one library worker must fully participate in the Academic Libraries Program. Participating Library Workers must complete monthly trainings, attend monthly cohort meetings, and gain access to the Researcher Workbench. Additional staff are welcome to attend trainings and participate as their availability allows.

    For information on how your institution can obtain a DURA, please review Step 1 of our Gaining Access to the Researcher Workbench document.

    For information on how to access the Researcher Workbench, please review Step 2 of our Gaining Access to the Researcher Workbench document.

    If your institution or organization does not have a DURA, you may still apply. However, it will impact your eligibility to participate and receive funding if a DURA is not in place by March 2024.

    The National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program is a historic effort to collect and study data from at least one million people living in the United States. The goal of All of Us is to speed up health research discoveries, enabling new kinds of individualized health care. To make this possible, All of Us is building one of the world’s largest and most diverse databases for health research. The Researcher Workbench is the secure, cloud-based platform that houses the All of Us dataset.

    No, there is no requirement or expectation to encourage individuals to enroll as participants in the All of Us Research Program. The All of Us Data Training and Engagement for Academic Libraries Program is solely focused on expanding research capacity.

    Up to 10 institutions will be selected to participate in the Academic Libraries Program.

    Yes, community colleges and two-year institutions are encouraged to apply. Please refer to the Program Requirements section for eligibility information.

    Yes, a budget template for the award will be provided with instructions on how to classify anticipated usage expenditures. An itemized budget is not required.

    Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) manages the National Library of Medicine All of Us Data Training and Engagement Project on behalf of the National Library of Medicine and in coordination with the All of Us Research Program.

    No. To be eligible, the institution must have a historic and current commitment to, or track record of, educating underrepresented students. Applicants are asked to provide evidence of this commitment as part of their application. Please refer to the Eligibility section for more information.

    No. All selected institutions are eligible to receive the award (up to $40,000 per institution), provided they meet all Academic Libraries Program requirements. Please refer to the Academic Libraries Program Requirements section for more information.

    Capacity Building Awards are dependent upon completion of several Academic Libraries Program requirements. Funding will be eligible to be dispersed to participating institutions who have met program requirements after March 2024.

    No. Only one Letter of Commitment is required.

    Yes. A minimum of one library worker from each institution and each participating library must fully participate in the Academic Libraries Program. Participating library workers must complete monthly trainings, attend monthly cohort meetings, and gain access to the Researcher Workbench. Additional staff are welcome to attend trainings and participate as their availability allows.

    Yes. If your institution or organization does not have a DURA, you may still apply. However, it will impact your eligibility to participate and receive the Capacity Building Award if a DURA is not in place by March 2024.

    Yes.

    No. Applications should be submitted through ORAU’s PeerNet. The application for 2023 is now closed.

    Yes. Facility and Administrative (F&A) costs or indirect costs (IDC) cannot be more than 15% of the total award amount for the Capacity Building Award.

    No. You can search by scientific question, owner, and project title. https://www.researchallofus.org/research-projects-directory/

  • Key Dates

    Program applications will open mid-Summer.

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    2023 Application Year

    • Online Application Opens  August 2023

      Applications will be accepted starting August 16, 2023

    • Information Sessions  August/September 2023

      Information Session for Applicants
      Wednesday, September 6 th at 3 p.m. ET Watch now  View the slides (.pdf)

      Information Session for Institutional Administrators
      Wednesday, September 13th at 1 p.m. ET

    • Application Deadline September 29th, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. ET

      Applications must be submitted, and all supplemental materials received by the deadline.

    • Application Review Early October 2023

      ORAU will review applications for eligibility and completeness. Applications will then be reviewed by a review committee, who will make final selections based on reviewer results.

    • Selection Notification Late October/Early November 2023

      Candidates are notified of selection and will receive an offer email to accept or decline participation in the Academic Libraries Program.

    • Program Participation November 2023 – September 2024

      Institution participation and onboarding will begin in Late November 2023.