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Diversifying the Research Workforce as a Programmatic Priority for a Career Development Award Program at Duke
Kimberly S Johnson1, Rasheed Gbadegesin2, Amanda E McMillan3
1K.S. Johnson is professor, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, and physician researcher, Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Summary
Duke University
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research workforce diversity
- Translational science
- Career development programs
Background:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) prioritizes diversity in the biomedical research workforce.
- NIH-funded institutional career development awards are a mechanism to support this goal.
- Duke University's KL2 program aimed to increase underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs) among awardees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of Duke's KL2 program in increasing diversity.
- To assess the impact of targeted strategies on UREG participation and success.
- To determine the post-program NIH funding success rate for UREG scholars.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed KL2 applications and awards from 2013-2019.
- Compared UREG representation with previous program cycles (2003-2012).
- Tracked NIH funding success (K award or R01) for program completers.
Main Results:
- UREG investigators comprised 47.6% of selected KL2 scholars (2013-2019), a significant increase from prior cycles.
- Post-KL2 NIH funding success rate for UREG scholars was 57% (4/7).
- Programmatic success was linked to institutional support, clear goals, and targeted applicant support strategies.
Conclusions:
- Duke's KL2 program successfully increased UREG representation and post-program funding success.
- Intentional strategies and institutional support are crucial for diversity initiatives.
- KL2 and similar programs offer a scalable national strategy for enhancing biomedical research workforce diversity.