Small Grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research

May 2023 Council

Lead Division/Office

OMHRC

Point(s) of Contact

Katrina Serrano

Executive Summary

The Small Grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is a longstanding funding opportunity within the NIDDK Office of Minority Health Research Coordination (OMHRC) that is designed to support new investigators from diverse backgrounds, including individuals who are from nationally underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical and behavioral research. The goal of the program is to provide funding to new investigators to enable them to conduct small research projects that will generate enough preliminary data for subsequent, substantive funding such as an NIH R01. Based on a portfolio analysis, the program has been successful in meeting its purpose and goals. Majority of the awarded investigators identify as Black/African American and Hispanic. Unfortunately, other meritorious R21 grant applications from talented and diverse investigators have not been funded. The continuation of this program is warranted.