The NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Not Allowed; PA-21-071) are administrative supplements available to enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, postdoctorates and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research.
Toolkit
Desiree L. Salazar, Ph.D., diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator for extramural programs at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, presented “Tools that Enhance the Diversity of the Biomedical Workforce” during a UF Health Cancer Center virtual seminar on Feb. 23, 2023.
FAQs
Q: What are NIH Diversity Supplements?
A: The overall goal of these supplements is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical workforce. Diversity supplements provide additional funding to an existing NIH grant or parent award to support individuals underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, social and basic science research by providing training, mentorship and career development opportunities.
Q: As a trainee, can I submit a proposal for a diversity supplement?
A: No, only a PI who has an eligible grant for a diversity supplement, usually an R01 or R35 grant, and who has at least one year left before it is due for a competitive renewal at the start of the supplement can submit an application.
Q: Who is eligible for a diversity supplement?
A: Trainees: The trainee named in the diversity supplement application must identify as belonging to a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented at UF. This includes racial or ethnic groups identified as underrepresented in science (such as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander), as well as other groups who not on that list but that have been recognized as underrepresented at UF (such as Filipino, Hmong and Vietnamese). Alternatively, if the individual comes from a financially disadvantaged background or has a disability, he or she may also qualify. More information can be found in the NIH guidelines. NIH guidelines state that trainees supported through diversity supplements must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Diversity supplement candidates may be considered for a supplement at the following career stages: high-school students, undergraduate students, post-baccalaureate and post-master’s degree students, predoctoral students, postdocs and faculty. For more information, please review the NIH Diversity Supplements Seminar recording. Importantly, most NIH Institutes do not allow a trainee to be listed as a diversity supplement candidate if they are already listed as personnel in the budget section of the PI’s parent award. Ideally, the trainee would be a new member of the PI’s lab who has not received any salary support from the parent grant, but exceptions can sometimes be made.
Parent awards: The PI must have an active NIH award, typically an R01 or R35, that has at least one year left before it is due for a competitive renewal at the time of the supplement starts.
Q: How can I find faculty who have an eligible grant to apply for a diversity supplement?
A: Please contact Luisel Ricks-Santi, Ph.D., at lrickssanti@cop.ufl.edu or Tasha Graham, M.B.A., at Tasha.Graham@medicine.ufl.edu
