STAT+: NIH scraps program to diversify the biomedical workforce, a longtime goal of science
Applications for a prestigious NIH grant that supports Ph.D. students from marginalized backgrounds are not being funded.
Applications for a prestigious National Institutes of Health grant program that supports Ph.D. students from marginalized backgrounds are abruptly being pulled from consideration during grant review sessions, according to scientists in those discussions, imperiling the journey into scientific careers for many young researchers.
The actions comply with the Trump administration’s new executive orders that forbid federal agencies from supporting activities promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility. Trump issued the orders in his first days in office, saying that DEI efforts are now illegal, and discriminatory themselves.
On Jan. 24, the NIH website suddenly showed the application window had expired for these F-31 diversity grants. This week, as scientists resumed meetings to evaluate assorted grant proposals after the administration relaxed its freeze on communications, the reviewers were told they should not consider the diversity grants for this funding cycle.
