Abstract
Purpose: The authors provide an analysis of sex differences in National Institutes of Health (NIH) award programs to inform potential initiatives for promoting diversity in the research workforce.
Method: In 2010, the authors retrieved data for NIH extramural grants in the electronic Research Administration Information for Management, Planning, and Coordination II database and used statistical analysis to determine any sex differences in securing NIH funding, as well as subsequent success of researchers who had already received independent NIH support.
Results: Success and funding rates for men and women were not significantly different in most award programs. Furthermore, in programs where participation was lower for women than men, the disparity was primarily related to a lower percentage of women applicants compared with men, rather than decreased success rates or funding rates. However, for subsequent grants, both application and funding rates were generally higher for men than for women.
Conclusions: Cross-sectional analysis showed that women and men were generally equally successful at all career stages, but longitudinal analysis showed that men with previous experience as NIH grantees had higher application and funding rates than women at similar career points. On average, although women received larger R01 awards than men, men had more R01 awards than women at all points in their careers. Therefore, while greater participation of women in NIH programs is under way, further action will be required to eradicate remaining sex differences.
Author Information
Dr. Pohlhaus was formerly an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and is currently vice president, Ripple Effect Communications, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
Dr. Jiang was formerly an analyst for Z-tech, an ICF International Company, working on contract at the Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; she is currently lead business intelligence specialist, IBM, Washington, DC.
Dr. Wagner is chief, Statistical Analysis and Reporting Branch, Division of Information Services, Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Dr. Schaffer is senior advisor to the deputy director of extramural research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Dr. Pinn is associate director of Research on Women's Health, and director, Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Pohlhaus, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 350H, MSC 7963, Bethesda, MD 20892; telephone: (301) 706-2816; e-mail: pohlhausj@mail.nih.gov.
First published online April 20, 2011
