Scientific Productivity, Research Funding, Race and Ethnicity

TL;DR

This paper examines racial disparities in NIH grant success, revealing that normalized productivity and funding measures can explain success rate differences, and emphasizes the need for systematic policy adjustments for equal opportunity.

Contribution

It extends prior research by integrating productivity and funding normalization to analyze racial disparities in grant success.

Findings

Normalized funding success explains racial disparities.

Racial differences in success rates are influenced by productivity measures.

Policy interventions should address systemic factors beyond review processes.

Abstract

In a recent study by Ginther et al., the probability of receiving a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) RO1 award was related to the applicant's race/ethnicity. The results indicate black/African-American applicants were 10% less likely than white peers to receive an award, after controlling for background and qualifications. It has generated a widespread debate regarding the unfairness of the NIH grant review process and its correction. In this paper, the work by Ginther et al. was augmented by pairing analysis, axiomatically-individualized productivity and normalized funding success measurement. Although there are racial differences in R01 grant success rates, normalized figures of merit for funding success explain the discrepancy. The suggested "leverage points for policy intervention" are in question and require deeper and more thorough investigations. Further adjustments in policies to remove racial disparity should be made more systematically for equal opportunity, rather than being limited to the NIH review process.