Gender Disparity in Grants and Awards at the National Institute of Health.

Beenish Safdar,Sadiq Naveed,Sundas Saboor,Muhammad Zeshan,Faisal Khosa,Amna Mohyud Din Chaudhary

doi:10.7759/cureus.14644

Abstract

ObjectiveThe National Institute of Health (NIH) supports the academic career of scientists across the United States (U.S.). It promotes and sponsors scientists in conducting wide-ranging clinical and basic science research. Depending on the duration, research type, and budget, there are various types of grants awarded by NIH. Despite considerable advancement in biomedical sciences, female researchers remain underrepresented in obtaining NIH funding. Through this study, we aim to highlight the gender trends in NIH funding and grants. By doing this, we aim to facilitate effective future policymaking to help achieve gender parity in NIH grants and awards.MethodsThe data were obtained from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT). The extracted data by gender were tabulated showing percentages of females as Research Grant Investigators, Research Career Development Award Recipients and Kirschstein-National Research Service Award (NRSA) Trainees and Fellows, recipients of Research Grants, Research Project Grants (RPGs), and R01 equivalent grants including types 1 or 2, over two decades (1999-2019). Absolute percentage change was also calculated and included in the tables.ResultsThe percentage of females as NIH Research Grant Investigators has increased at centers, research centers as well as for RPGs and Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. For Research Career Development Award Recipients and Kirschstein-NRSA Trainees and Fellows, the proportion of female pre-doctoral institutional trainees, post-doctoral fellows, post-doctoral institutional trainees, mentored research career awardees, and other research career awardees have steadily increased. However, there was a decrease in the percentage of female pre-doctoral fellow awardees. The percentage of females receiving all RPGs, R01-New (type 1) and R01-Renewal (type 2) grants has also decreased. ConclusionDespite an overall increase in the percentage of female researchers successfully receiving NIH grants and awards, they continue to lag compared to their male counterparts. With the increasing number of female doctoral graduates, it is imperative to address this disparity in NIH funding.

Highlights

Despite the higher percentage of female doctoral graduates, there is a considerable gender gap in research leadership at federal government departments
The percentage of females as National Institute of Health (NIH) Research Grant Investigators has increased at centers, research centers as well as for Research Project Grants (RPGs) and Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs
This study aims to highlight the gender trends of NIH grant support and characterize potential explanations for existing gender differences

Summary

Introduction

Despite the higher percentage of female doctoral graduates, there is a considerable gender gap in research leadership at federal government departments. More than half of the doctoral degrees in biology, psychology, and medical disciplines at the universities and research institutions in the U.S are secured by females. This number of female doctoral graduates in the U.S is expected to grow till the year 2029 [1]. A case-control analysis conducted on data extracted from the United States National Institutes of Health and other federal departments, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Veterans Affairs showed that females comprised only 27% of the top research leadership at NIH and a lesser percentage in other departments. NIH intramural research program, an internal research program, has only 31% female research investigators [3]

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