Study Reveals Blacks are Less Likely than Whites to Get NIH Grants
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins has assigned further investigation into disparity.
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - A new study has revealed that Black scientists are significantly less likely than White researchers to be awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health, according to a new report.
The finding, based on analysis of submissions from 40,000 researchers who submitted more than 80,000 grant applications between 2000 and 2006, confirmed that Black applicants were approved only about 16 percent of the time, compared to White scientists.
The results indicate possible race bias and that race is likely a key factor in deciding who gets funding for research on diseases that disparately plague African-Americans, including diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and other health problems. The NIH is a major funder of biomedical research.
Thought Black scientists comprise about 12 percent of the U. S. population, only 1.4 percent of the applications were submitted from black scientists, according to the study. Black scientists received poorer scores than white scientists, lessening their chances for getting funded.
As a result of the report, NIH advisory groups have reportedly been assigned to continue investigating. They include a diversity task force from the NIH and a Diversity in Biomedical Research Working Group.
According to reports, NIH Director Francis S. Collins told reporters, “This situation is not acceptable … This data is deeply troubling.”