The NIH continues to support training populations from underrepresented groups

As national and state policies evolve, the NIH remains committed to promoting pathways for potential trainees from all backgrounds – including individuals from groups historically underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral or social sciences – to enter the extramural scientific workforce. Investments continue in identifying structural barriers and promoting equity in the NIH-supported biomedical research ecosystem through programs such as, but not limited to, the UNITE initiative and Diversity Program Consortium (DPC). 

The term “underrepresented group” encapsulates characters beyond race, sex, or ethnicity. According to the NIH’s Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity, people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences also includes individuals with disabilities or who are from disadvantaged backgrounds (i.e. people who were or currently are homeless, in the foster care system, eligible for Federal Free and Reduced Lunch, eligible for Federal Pell grants, grew up in a US rural area). 

Recruitment and Mentorship 

As this relates to NIH-sponsored training programs at UCLA, upcoming changes to institutional training grant application requirements are aimed at encouraging: 

1. Recruitment of underrepresented populations. The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity should address how training program leadership is going above and beyond departmental efforts to expand diverse applicant pools through recruitment activities designed to reach potential trainees from all backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented groups.
2. Expanding expert mentorship. Training programs are expected to enhance effective mentorship by ensuring all program faculty complete formal mentor training and periodic refreshers in order to ensure that the mentor/trainee relationship is not only productive, but also supportive.

Holistic Admissions

When planning an institutional training grant’s admissions process, consider using a holistic approach in which a wide range of factors are considered such as their previous academic performance, extracurricular activities, personal essays, geography, and first-generation student status. Admissions decisions may additionally be made based on identity neutral considerations (i.e. resilience, persistence, research topic interests, passion, leadership, or communication). 

Questions? 

For questions related to local or state regulations, please reach out to UCLA’s appropriate Government and Community Relations team. 

For questions about how to incorporate these components into institutional training grant and/or diversity supplement applications, please contact the Grants Submissions Unit at GSU@mednet.ucla.edu.