The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers various funding supplements and mechanisms geared toward promoting and increasing diversity in the NIH-supported scientific workforce so as to foster scientific innovation, enhance global competitiveness, and advance the likelihood that underserved or health disparity populations participate in, and benefit from health research, and enhance public trust. The following mechanisms encourage institutions to diversify their student, postdoctorate, and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.
Research Grant Supplements to Promote Diversity
- Supplemental funding for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for individual fellows to support family-friendly work environments for the NIH supported workforce.
- NOT-OD-21-074 Childcare Costs Supplements for NRSA Individual Fellowship Awards
- NOT-OD-21-177 Childcare Costs Supplements for NRSA Institutional Research Training Awards
- PA-21-071 Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Administrative Supplement, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- This mechanism provides additional funding to currently active NIH grants (parent grants excluding T32) and serves as a bridge to support underrepresented trainees to progress to the next academic/career level across the entire education and training continuum. Commitment requirements vary according to candidate education or training level. It is strongly encouraged that you confirm eligibility with your Program Officer. Applications due Oct 1 — Dec 1 and Feb 1 — Mar 30.
Funding Mechanisms with a Focus on Promoting Diversity
- NCI Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE): Development Awards to Promote Diversity — NCI F31, K01, K08, K22
- PA-21-052 NCI F31 Individual NRSA for Diverse PhD Students and Diverse MD/PhD Students from MSTP Institutions.
- NCI K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity
- NCI K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity
- NCI K22 Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity
- PAR-21-061 Exploratory Grant Award to Promote Workforce Diversity in Basic Cancer Research (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-322 Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-323 Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-324 Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- RFA-CA-21-020 NCI Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- RFA-CA-21-063 A Multilevel Approach to Connecting Underrepresented Populations to Clinical Trials (CUSP2CT; U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- RFA-CA-21-058 Data, Evaluation and Coordinating Center for: A Multilevel Approach to Connecting Underrepresented Populations to Clinical Trials (CUSP2CT) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Federal Programs to Increase Diversity
- NIH Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
The LRP repays up to $50k annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Applications due annually between September and November. Contact NCI LRP Liaison mark.damico@nih.gov
- NCI Geographic Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMaP)
The goals of GMaP are to contribute to the science of cancer health disparities (CHD) and promote the development of the next generation of competitive, underrepresented cancer and CHD investigators. Philadelphia belongs to GMaP Region 4, which offers the following for early-stage investigators:
- GMaP Region 4: Rapid Research Stimulus Award
- GMaP Region 4: Expert Grant Review Award
- GMaP Region 4: AACR Science of Health Disparities Travel Awards
- NIH UNITE initiative to address structural racism in biomedical research
- Opportunities to Become Involved in NCI’s Equity Efforts
NCI Requests for information seeking input and ideas that will lead to meaningful and lasting change. These include:
- RFA-RM-21-025 (Closed 09/24/21) NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program: FIRST Cohort (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)
- NOT-CA-21-067 (Closed 07/15/21) Seeking Stakeholder Input on Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion in the Cancer Research Workforce
- NOT-CA-21-066 (Closed 06/25/21) Seeking Stakeholder Input on Enhancing Cancer Health Disparities Research
- NCI Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE)
Provides P20 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) and U54 (Clinical Trial Option) institutional awards for the development of partnerships between institutions serving underserved health disparity populations and underrepresented students and NCI-designated Cancer Centers.