Administrative Supplements for Diversity, Re-entry, and Continuity

Many NIH recipients are aware that funds may be available for administrative supplements to address impacts to research following severe weather or other unforeseen events. Fewer recipients, however, are aware of these other administrative supplement programs to support research within the scope and timeline of a current award.

Learn About NIH’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan for FY 2023 to 2027

We are pleased to announce that NIH recently released its Fiscal Years 2023-2027 NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA).

How Virtual Convenings Can Enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

Our latest guest post describes the NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity Office’s commitment to hold all seminars, conferences, and meetings entirely online throughout 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic-induced shift to online events has led to a growing body of research on the impact of virtual scientific convenings. A review of this literature suggests that an entirely or primarily virtual format can enhance meeting access, diversity, and climate.

New NIH Administrative Supplements Available to Support Diversity Mentorship

I am pleased to announce the availability of a new NIH administrative supplement that recognizes the crucial role outstanding mentors play in fostering future leaders in the biomedical research enterprise. Qualified investigators can now submit proposals in response to the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD)-led Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) NOT-OD-22-057: Administrative Supplements to Recognize Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Mentorship. Proposals are due by April 7, 2022.

Feedback Sought on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Framework for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

We are pleased to announce that the framework for the NIH-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) strategic plan was released earlier this week (NOT-OD-22-061). Your input on the framework is welcomed as the plan is developed, which will help us ensure that DEIA principles continue to be embraced and integrated across NIH going forward.

Two Upcoming Events on Using Cohort Models to Enhance Diversity

The NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD) Office is hosting a seminar and virtual forum on faculty cohort recruitment programs and other evidence-based strategies as tools to foster diversity. The first event will be on December 8, while the second will be in February 2022. Both events are open to NIH staff and the public.

Reaffirming NIH’s Commitment to Workforce Diversity

Diversity is inextricably tied to the success of the NIH mission, thus ensuring diversity within the extramural biomedical research workforce is of utmost importance. We are aware that NIH’s recent decision to rescind a “Notice of Special Interest” (or NOSI) – intended solely to call attention to the presence of a specific funding opportunity announcement and encourage researchers from underrepresented groups to apply – may have caused some to question this commitment. While the spirit of the NOSI was laudable, it may have led to an impression that by linking demographic characteristics to grant proposals, applications supporting scientists from underrepresented groups would be automatically prioritized for funding. Read on for more.

All About Grants Podcast: Diversity Plans for Conference Applications

In this NIH All About Grants episode, Dr. Paula Goodwin with the NIH Office of Extramural Research discusses the Diversity Plan, why it is required for conference grant applications, some things to consider when putting a plan together, how reviewers will assess it, and more.

CSR’s Commitment to Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Peer Review

On March 1, NIH Director Francis Collins announced NIH’s broad-based initiative, UNITE, to end structural racism and racial inequities in biomedical science. This is a recognition of the need for urgent, sustained effort on many fronts across the research enterprise, including in all parts of the NIH’s extramural processes, to change culture. While the NIH Institutes and Centers will examine their programmatic priorities and discretionary funding practices, here at CSR, we are committed to pushing ahead with efforts to protect the peer review process from the systemic biases that exist in all areas of the scientific community.

Enhancing Diversity at NIH-Funded Conferences

At NIH, we have and continue to focus not just on gender equity but on ensuring greater diversity in all aspects of the biomedical workforce. This means, that along with women, members of racial and/or ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are also included. To help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation, NIH needs the richness and breadth of varied perspectives that comes from having a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds.

In that spirit, today we released a guide notice (NOT-OD-21-053) that updates guidance for NIH R13/U13 Conference Grant applicants and recipients.