Related Experiment Videos
Avoiding gender and minority barriers to NIH funding
1National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. Hardent@exmur.nia.nih.gov
Summary
National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding is denied for clinical research if plans for including women and minorities are scientifically inadequate. Addressing these inclusionary gaps can prevent funding barriers for investigators.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Trials Methodology
- Health Equity
Background:
- Federal legislation aims to enhance health and disease treatment for all Americans.
- Detecting and accounting for ethnic and gender differences in health outcomes is a key goal.
- Historically, opportunities for diverse subject inclusion in research have faced barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To inform National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigators about guidelines for including women and minorities in clinical research.
- To provide strategies for overcoming common barriers to federal research funding.
- To ensure equitable representation in clinical research subject populations.
Main Methods:
- Review of NIH policies and funding application information.
- Analysis of comments from NIH reviewers on submitted applications.
- Examination of historical federal legislation goals for health research inclusivity.
Main Results:
- NIH applications can be rejected for funding despite high scientific merit if subject inclusion plans are inadequate.
- Inclusionary plans for women and minorities are critically assessed by review groups.
- Scientific unacceptability of inclusion plans is a primary reason for funding denial.
Conclusions:
- Funding barriers due to inadequate inclusion of women and minorities are correctable.
- Investigators can avoid funding rejections by developing scientifically sound inclusion plans.
- Adherence to NIH guidelines ensures equitable research subject representation and facilitates federal funding.