NIH launches program to increase diversity of NIH-funded workforce

Increasing the Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce, a new program from the NIH Common Fund, will aid in developing new and innovative ways to increase recruitment and retention of scientists from backgrounds underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research workforce.

The program is composed of a series of three integrated initiatives. The NIH Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) initiative will “strengthen infrastructure of comparatively under-resourced institutions with high concentrations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing research experiences for undergraduates and resources for faculty.” The NIH National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) initiative will “coordinate nationwide pairings of students and faculty for robust mentoring relationships, develop standards for good mentoring, and provide training for mentors.” Additionally, the Coordinating and Evaluation Center will evaluate the BUILD and NRMN initiatives and help coordinate resource sharing among existing diversity programs.
 
NIH has also begun to accept applications for six-month planning grants for both the BUILD and NRMN initiatives.