The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is soliciting grant applications for projects that will bring useful, usable health information to health disparity populations and their health care providers.

“Health disparities” refer to population-specific differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, and access to health care. Populations affected by disparities include racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women/children/the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Proposed projects should exploit the capabilities of computer & information technology and health sciences libraries to bring health-related information to consumers and their health care providers. Sample topics of interest include:

• Needs assessment studies that identify the types and forms of information needed by health disparity populations to assist them in making health-related decisions
• Providing information resources/services to support academic health disparity researchers
• Providing information resources/services to community organizations involved with health disparity populations

NLM intends to commit $500,000 in the 2015 fiscal year for up to 5 awards. Letters of intent (not required) are due on June 29, 2014 and applications are due on July 29, 2014.

For more information about the grants, see Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: RFA-LM-14-001. For tools and resources regarding health disparities, see the Health Services Research Information Central (HSRIC)’s entry on Health Disparities.