NIH Launches New UNITE E Initiatives

The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) UNITE “E” Committee has been working to develop a strategy to advance racial equity and create a more inclusive biomedical research environment (see previous coverage on NIH’s UNITE activity). On May 17, the Committee announced the launch of new initiatives, including innovative funding programs and policy changes. New funding opportunities are as follows:

• The Research With Activities Related to Diversity (ReWARD) program aims to enhance the span and location of research and research-related activities supported by NIH. The program will provide R01 grants to institutions to support the health-related research of scientists who significantly contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and who are not currently supported by NIH research project grant funding. First application due date: June 5, 2023; Earliest start date: April 2024.
• The Instrumentation Grant Program for Resource-Limited Institutions aims to enhance research capacity and educational opportunities at resource-limited institutions by providing funds to purchase modern, scientific equipment. Applications must list three major users, which include researchers who have a scientific need for the instrument or those who wish to use it for teaching upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses. First application due date: July 3, 2023; Earliest start date: April 2024.
• The STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): The STRONG initiative’s Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource-Limited Institutions program will provide grants to institutions with limited resources to help them assess their research capacity building needs and develop action plans to meet those needs. Examples of the types of needs that institutions might identify include, but are not limited to: equipment or other infrastructure; renovations or new facilities; enhancement or establishment of sponsored programs administrative capabilities; faculty or staff recruitment in strategic areas; new training or mentoring programs for faculty and staff; new educational opportunities for students; and changes to institutional promotions, teaching, or sabbatical policies. First application due date: September 18, 2023; Earliest start date: July 2024.

The UNITE E Committee has also launched a prize competition to recognize effective strategies for enhancing DEIA in research environments: the NIH Institutional Excellence in DEIA in Biomedical and Behavioral Research Prize Competition. The prize competition aims to recognize transformative cultures, systems, projects, and processes developed by academic institutions to promote inclusive excellence and create environments that foster and value a culture of DEIA. NIH will award up to 10 prizes of $100,000 each through the competition. Up to half of the prizes will be set aside for consideration for limited resourced institutions. To participate, registration is required by September 12; entries are being accepted through, September 26, 2023.