2021 Diversity Statement

The NIH is committed to encouraging diversity in the scientific workforce while funding the best science across the nation (see NOT-OD-20-031). As part of NIH’s continuing efforts, the NIH Common Fund adopted recommendations from the 2018 Advisory Committee to the Director Working Group on High-Risk, High-Reward Programs and incorporated feedback from a 2019 Request for Information (RFI).

Language was strengthened in the funding opportunity announcements to encourage applications reflecting the full diversity of potential PDs/PIs, applicant institutions, and research areas relevant to the broad mission of NIH. The funding opportunities encouraged applications from:

1. Researchers from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women.
2. The full range of eligible institutions, including those serving primarily underserved groups, those that may be less research-intensive, and from all domestic geographic locations.
3. All research areas broadly relevant to the mission of NIH, including the behavioral, medical, natural, social, applied, and formal sciences and research that is basic, translational, or clinical.

To improve the awareness of the program to diverse scientific groups, the Common Fund substantially increased its outreach efforts through presentations at relevant conferences and groups, emailed program information and funding opportunities to institution officials, provided additional website resources for applicants, and hosted informational webinars. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted outreach efforts in the past year, but progress was made, and efforts continue to expand.

The Common Fund continues to collaborate with the Center for Scientific Review to pilot anonymized review of Transformative Research Award applications. The anonymization seeks to focus the reviews on the merits of the proposed ideas and encourage applications from investigators who might not otherwise apply. The FY2021 funding opportunity announcement was the first competition cycle to require anonymized applications and is now complete. The anonymized review experiment will continue for another two competition cycles, and Common Fund has contracted with a third-party entity to evaluate the process and its outcomes.

Outcomes from these efforts may take time to show, but the Common Fund remains committed to increasing diversity within the program. The tables below display the percentage of females, underrepresented groups, and Hispanic or Latino applicants, finalists, and awardees for each HRHR initiative. Percentages are shown for the FY2021 cohort and the total for each initiative. Please note:

• These data are voluntarily self-reported by applicants, and some applicants choose not to provide this information.
• The data are given as percentages, and any percentage less than 5% is designated as “< 5%.” Percentages and ranges are used to protect the identity of applicants in compliance with The Privacy Act.

Underrepresented groups include African American or Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander based on the National Science Foundation report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering. Race designations are set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Federal Register, October 30, 1997).
 

Ethnic categories are set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Federal Register, October 30, 1997).

Special Focus Areas

Unique to this year was the addition of two special-focus areas:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – The Accelerating Leading-edge Science in ALS (ALS²) initiative issued an opportunity to support ALS research through several Transformative Research Awards. The initiative aims to dramatically advance the understanding of what triggers and drives the rapid progression of ALS.
• COVID-19 – Due to the public health emergency, the Transformative Research Award and Early Independence Award issued additional funding opportunities for COVID-19-related research on the prevention of, preparation for, or response to SARS-CoV-2 using funds provided through the CARES Act.

The percentage of females, underrepresented groups, and Hispanic or Latino applicants, finalists, and awardees for the special focus areas are provided in the tables below.

Underrepresented groups include African American or Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander based on the National Science Foundation report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering. Race designations are set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Federal Register, October 30, 1997).
 

Ethnic categories are set by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (Federal Register, October 30, 1997).