NIH seeks input on enhancing scientific and workforce diversity through the BRAIN Initiative. Public comments will be accepted through this Request for Information (RFI) through August 31, 2020.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is eager to be on the leading edge of efforts to enhance scientific and workforce diversity and recognizes the importance of considering various approaches and potential barriers associated with such efforts. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems, and there are many benefits that flow from a diverse NIH-supported scientific workforce. Further, the importance of scientific and workforce diversity was recently emphasized in BRAIN Initiative 2.0: From Cells to Circuits, Toward Cures. This report recommended the BRAIN Initiative “continue to recognize that enhancing diversity of the research workforce is a scientific imperative. It should continue to recruit and support students, postdocs, and investigators from diverse backgrounds in NIH BRAIN Initiative-funded projects. These include individuals from groups underrepresented in health-related research.”
Through a recently issued Request for Information (RFI), the BRAIN Initiative seeks input from BRAIN Initiative awardees and the broader scientific community on factors that may limit or discourage participation from certain groups or institutions. Information about novel or existing practices that might be employed to promote inclusion in BRAIN Initiative Programs is also welcome.
Stakeholder feedback is requested on any or all, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Developing or enhancing partnerships and collaborations among investigators from research-intensive institutions and institutions that focus on underserved or underrepresented populations but have limited research resources
- Creating effective outreach and recruitment opportunities to research institutions that have not historically competed for BRAIN Initiative funding
- Furthering practices that promote diverse applicant pools and research teams for the BRAIN Initiative (e.g., women, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, geographic location, various career stages and academic levels etc.)
- Strategies to enhance BRAIN Initiative workforce diversity and inclusion
- Understanding challenges or potential concerns that may arise as a result of implementing novel practices that promote inclusion
- Developing metrics and evaluation strategies to examine the outcomes of increased diversity efforts
The deadline for submitting public comments has been extended! Public comment will be accepted by emailing BRAIN.Initiative.Training@mail.nih.gov by August 31, 2020. For more information, please view the full RFI Notice.