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. 2016 Aug;91(8):1098-107.
doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001278.

Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and National Institutes of Health R01 Research Awards: Is There Evidence of a Double Bind for Women of Color?

Donna K Ginther  1 , Shulamit Kahn, Walter T Schaffer
Affiliations

Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and National Institutes of Health R01 Research Awards: Is There Evidence of a Double Bind for Women of Color?

Donna K Ginther et al. Acad Med. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, and the probability of being awarded an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Method: The authors used data from the NIH Information for Management, Planning, Analysis, and Coordination grants management database for the years 2000-2006 to examine gender differences and race/ethnicity-specific gender differences in the probability of receiving an R01 Type 1 award. The authors used descriptive statistics and probit models to determine the relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, degree, investigator experience, and R01 award probability, controlling for a large set of observable characteristics.

Results: White women PhDs and MDs were as likely as white men to receive an R01 award. Compared with white women, Asian and black women PhDs and black women MDs were significantly less likely to receive funding. Women submitted fewer grant applications, and blacks and women who were new investigators were more likely to submit only one application between 2000 and 2006.

Conclusions: Differences by race/ethnicity explain the NIH funding gap for women of color, as white women have a slight advantage over men in receiving Type 1 awards. Findings of a lower submission rate for women and an increased likelihood that they will submit only one proposal are consistent with research showing that women avoid competition. Policies designed to address the racial and ethnic diversity of the biomedical workforce have the potential to improve funding outcomes for women of color.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, degree, and the probability of being awarded an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Panel A: The probability by gender, race/ethnicity, and degree of an application receiving an R01 award. Panel B: The probability by gender, race/ethnicity, and degree of an applicant (2000–2006) receiving at least one R01 award between 1980 and 2006.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relationship between gender, race/ethnicity, degree, investigator experience, and the probability of being awarded an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Panel A: The probability of new investigators (those who had not previously received R01-equivalent funding) receiving an R01 award. Panel B: The probability of experienced investigators receiving an R01 award.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ginther DK, Kahn S. Education and Academic Career Outcomes for Women of Color in Science and Engineering. Seeking Solutions: Maximizing American Talent by Advancing Women of Color in Academia: Summary of a Conference; 2013; Washington, DC: National Academy Press; pp. 71–92.
    1. Ginther DK, Schaffer WT, Schnell J, et al. Diversity in academic biomedicine: An evaluation of education and career outcomes with implications for policy. Social Science Research Network; 2009. [Accessed April 15, 2016]. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1677993.
    1. Ginther DK, Schaffer WT, Schnell J, et al. Race, ethnicity, and NIH research awards. Science. 2011;333:1015–1019. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ginther DK, Haak LL, Schaffer WT, Kington R. Are race, ethnicity, and medical school affiliation associated with NIH R01 type 1 award probability for physician investigators? Acad Med. 2012;87:1516–1524. - PMC - PubMed
    1. National Institutes of Health. [Accessed April 15, 2016];Draft Report of the Advisory Committee to the Director Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce. 2012 http://acd.od.nih.gov/Diversity%20in%20the%20Biomedical%20Research%20Wor....

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