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The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that supports research into the causes, treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases, as well as the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research.
NIAMS recognizes the importance of promoting diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical workforce, and is involved with NIH programs that support this goal. The NIH Diversity Supplements provide funding opportunities for researchers historically underrepresented in science. Additionally, NIAMS has created the Diversity Supplement Scholars Program to better support recipients of these awards, buoying career trajectories toward independent research.1
Diversity in the biomedical research workforce is important and critical to the success of the mission of the National Institutes of Health. An expanding body of research demonstrates that “teams composed of people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences produce better and more innovative products and ideas than a homogenous team.”2,3 Further, diversity in the research environment boosts participation of underserved populations in clinical studies by expanding public trust, and increases the likelihood that outcomes from research will benefit these groups.3
Despite significant progress toward diversifying the research workforce over the past several decades, there’s still work to be done. Most NIH-funded principal investigators are white and non-Hispanic.4–6
The NIH continues to take substantial measures to address the need for more diversity. These efforts are spearheaded by the NIH Scientific Workforce Diversity Office and trickle down throughout the organization and its branches.7 Various programs attack the problem from different angles. Conferences and seminars reach out to researchers at all career stages, starting as early as high school. Educational modules about implicit bias are available to NIH groups. Revised recruitment search protocols help NIH search committees expand applicant pools beyond personal and professional networks. Additionally, the NIH UNITE initiative identifies structural racism within the greater scientific community in hopes of rectification.8
NIH Diversity Supplements
NIH Diversity Supplements aim to increase diversity in the research workforce by providing training, mentorship and career development opportunities to individuals who are underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, social and basic sciences research.
The NIAMS Diversity Supplement Scholars Program further supports award recipients. Melinda Nelson, director of the Office of Extramural Operations (OEO), Bethesda, Md., and Kristy Nicks, PhD, program director for the Bone Biology, Metabolic Bone Disorders, and Osteoporosis portfolio, Bethesda, Md., help us better understand the ways in which NIAMS is working toward diversity goals. Together, they co-chair the NIAMS Diversity Supplement Scholars Program work group.
The supplements are not intended to provide alternate funding to researchers already supported by the parent grant; instead, they are aimed at recruiting early researchers in need of training to the principal investigator’s lab.
Dr. Nicks notes that “the addition of the Scholars Program seeks to enhance the NIH diversification strategy by adding to the sustainability of these efforts.”
Ms. Nelson adds, “The program is designed to provide recipients with support throughout their award and resources to foster their career trajectory towards an independent research career. The Scholars webpage offers information about funding opportunities and important NIH resources. We hope that we can increase collaborative networking opportunities for the Scholars, as well as provide information on other career development opportunities.”
The NIAMS Diversity Supplement Scholars Program consists of all Scholars funded in each fiscal year separated into cohorts. Ms. Nelson continues, “We will hold an annual webinar to allow the Scholar and their mentor to have more interaction with NIAMS staff and strengthen their knowledge of NIH. We will discuss how staff members can serve as resources during the evolution of the award, as well as the rules and policies associated with the award (e.g., progress reports, applying for other NIH and non-NIH grants and award milestones). We will discuss Scholar interactions with mentors and mentor responsibilities. We also plan open discussion to allow Scholars and mentors to get to know each other, network and offer feedback on how the program can be further developed to meet their needs.”
Recent NIAMS Scholars include both pre- and postdoctoral researchers, and profiles are available online.9
The ACR & Diversity
Within the past few years, diversity has also become a major focus of the ACR. Kristi Kuhn, MD, PhD, chair of the ACR’s Committee on Research (COR), associate professor of medicine and of immunology and microbiology in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colo., is excited about the opportunities the NIH Diversity Supplements present.
Dr. Kuhn explains that the “ACR COR meets with NIAMS leadership to better understand their mission and available opportunities, as well as promote a research agenda that benefits our rheumatology community.” She admits that even as an NIH-funded researcher herself, she was not aware of these opportunities until recently. “I think they are an attractive option to increase and add diversity for our recruitment to the field of rheumatology,” she adds.
Where to Start
Although the grant application process may seem tedious and daunting, the NIH and ACR are here to help. The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) sponsors the NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration, hosting seminars to demystify the application and review process. The most recent virtual seminar took place in November 2021, and the materials are still available online: https://grants.nih.gov/virtual-seminar-2021/presentations.html. Registration is required because space is limited, but seminars are free. For the latest information on upcoming seminars, review the website (see Resources, left), subscribe to email updates or send an email to [email protected] for more information.10
Additionally, the ACR COR sponsors sessions about research career development at ACR Convergence. During ACR Convergence 2021, many informational and networking opportunities were available in the Early Career Community Hub. “CH Early Career: Meet the Federal Funding Officers is a particularly popular and helpful session,” says Dr. Kuhn.
Some sessions are available on demand for Convergence attendees until March 11. These are most easily found by applying the “early career” filter located under Community Hubs.
Application Process & Eligibility
The NIH Diversity Supplements are formally known as Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, PA-21-071.11 NIAMS Diversity Supplements may be awarded to a principal investigator who has already been awarded a parent grant from NIAMS. The parent grant typically must have at least two years of NIAMS support remaining, and requests should be tailored to the applicant’s training plan.
Applicants are accepted from all levels of training, including high school students, undergraduates, post-baccalaureate and master’s degree holders, graduate and health professional students, postdoctoral fellows and investigators developing independent research careers.
The supplements are not intended to provide alternate funding to researchers already supported by the parent grant; instead, they are aimed at recruiting early researchers in need of training to the principal investigator’s lab.
Underrepresented groups in the biomedical sciences include racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and individuals from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds that have inhibited their ability to pursue a career in health-related research. Applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents to apply.
Of note, women do not meet this designation with respect to the Diversity Supplements, but NIAMS wholly supports gender equity.12
Applications are reviewed and accepted on a continuous basis between Oct. 1 and May 31, with the review process typically taking a minimum of three months.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the NIAMS Diversity Supplement Program Coordinator prior to submission ([email protected]). Restrictions apply; applicants are urged to carefully review application guidelines.11–13
Applications are reviewed and approved based on the scientific merit of the proposed project; appropriateness of the project for the applicant’s and parent grant’s goals; applicant’s research training potential; and the quality of the submitted mentoring and training plan. The applicant’s personal statement is of particular importance, too.
Maximum funding depends on the type of applicant, with investigators developing independent research careers eligible for up to $100,000 of salary support and an additional $10,000 per year for supplies and travel. The maximum duration of support is typically two years.
All applications for a supplement award must include the following items:
- NIH biosketch of all involved personnel, including the principal investigator;
- Statement of eligibility;
- Personal statement;
- Transcripts;
- Qualification of mentors describing roles and relationship to candidate; and
- Research, mentoring and career development plan summary.
Dr. Nicks and Ms. Nelson offered the following tips to prospective applicants:
- Read the Diversity Supplement Funding Opportunity Announcement carefully;11
- Review the information provided on the NIAMS website; and
- Speak with the staff contacts listed on the Funding Opportunity Announcement.
Ms. Nelson adds, “Our staff review the applicant, research project, career development plan, and mentor’s qualification and mentoring plan. Most importantly, we make sure that the applicant’s career goals align with the career development plan, that the research project is at the appropriate level for the applicant, and that the project is within the scope of the parent grant but not overlapping. We also consider the mentor’s qualifications, prior mentoring experience, mentoring plan, and philosophy.”
For general questions about Diversity Supplements, interested applicants may contact Raj Srinath, PhD, at [email protected].
In Sum
The NIH Diversity Supplements are an oft-overlooked source of funding. Both the ACR and NIAMS encourage members of the rheumatology community to take full advantage of this untapped funding source to further their careers and the field of rheumatology as a whole.
Samantha C. Shapiro, MD, is an academic rheumatologist and an affiliate faculty member of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her training in internal medicine and rheumatology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. She is also a member of the ACR Insurance Subcommittee.