NIH Helps Advance Women in Biomedical
Research Careers
For every bright mind that doesn't reach her or his full potential,
biomedical research loses a new idea, a new approach, or a new
perspective.
In an effort to advance talented women in leadership positions,
including those from underrepresented backgrounds, the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) published today a Request for Applications
(RFA) to support research on causal factors and interventions that
promote and support the careers of women in biomedical and behavioral
science and engineering. The initiative will provide $2 to $3 million
to fund up to eight R01 awards in fiscal year 2009.
"Through rigorous research efforts, the NIH and others will
continue to close the gender gap in science and engineering," said
NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D. "Collecting data to understand
what affects the career trajectories for women and men will inform
the development and adaptation of intervention strategies."
The RFA seeks to support research on causal factors explaining
the career patterns of women in biomedical and behavioral science
and engineering. It also aims to test the efficacy of programs
designed to eliminate sex/gender disparities and to promote the
careers of women in these fields. Areas of interest include family
and economic circumstances; institutional/departmental environment
and organizational structure; disciplinary culture or practices;
and issues related to broader social and cultural context.
The initiative, sponsored by the National Institute of General
Medical Sciences (NIGMS), emerged from the NIH Working Group on
Women in Biomedical Careers, co-chaired by Dr. Zerhouni and Dr.
Vivian Pinn, Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health
and Director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH).
The Working Group was created to examine and address the issues
highlighted in the National Academies report, "Beyond Bias
and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science
and Engineering", with attention to both extramural and intramural
communities.
RFA-GM-09-012: Research on Causal Factors and Interventions
that Promote and Support the Careers of Women in Biomedical and
Behavioral Science and Engineering (R01). The receipt date
for applications is October 22, 2008. To view the announcement,
visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-09-012.html. For more information about the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers, visit http://womeninscience.nih.gov/.
NIGMS supports basic biomedical research that is the foundation
for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. For
more information, visit http://www.nigms.nih.gov.
ORWH serves as the focal point for women's health research at the
NIH. For more information, visit http://orwh.od.nih.gov/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers
and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates
the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. |