Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

The NIH provides to Principal Investigators (PIs) holding specific types of NIH research grants funds for administrative supplements to improve the diversity of the research workforce by supporting and recruiting students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research (see the full program announcement). This supplement opportunity is also available to Program Directors (PDs)/PIs of research grants who become disabled and need additional support to accommodate their disability in order to continue to work on the research project. 

Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. All NIH awarding components participate in this program.

Candidates eligible for support under this supplement program include individuals at various career levels who come from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in science. Such candidates include:

• Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be convincingly demonstrated to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in this program.
• Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as:
  • Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size; published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at HHS - Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement. For individuals from low income backgrounds, the institution must be able to demonstrate that such participants have qualified for Federal disadvantaged assistance or they have received any of the following student loans: Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL), Loans for Disadvantaged Student Program, or they have received scholarships from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Scholarship for Individuals with Exceptional Financial Need.
  • Individuals who come from a social, cultural, or educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that have demonstrably and recently directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.  

Detailed eligibility criteria are described in the full program announcement.

For application guidance and additional information on administrative supplements to promote diversity in NIDCD-supported research, please contact Alberto Rivera-Rentas.