Minority Health and Health Disparities Research

To support basic, clinical, social, and behavioral research; promote research infrastructure and training; foster emerging programs; disseminate information; and reach out to minority and other health disparity communities. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) has established programs to pursue these goals: (1) The Centers of Excellence Program promotes research to improve minority health and/or reduce and eliminate health disparities; builds research capacity for minority health and health disparities research in academic institutions; encourages participation of health disparity groups and communities in biomedical and behavioral research and prevention and intervention activities; and brings together investigators from relevant disciplines in a manner that will enhance and extend the effectiveness of their research; (2) NIMHD Research Endowment Program builds research capacity and infrastructure at eligible NIMHD Centers of Excellence or eligible Section 736 health professions schools (42 U.S.C. 293) to facilitate minority health and other health disparities research to close the disparity gap in the burden of illness and death experienced by racial and ethnic minority Americans and other health disparity populations; promotes a diverse and strong scientific, technological and engineering workforce; and emphasizes the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities and other socio-economically disadvantaged populations in the fields of biomedical and behavioral research and other areas of the scientific workforce; (3) The Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research to stimulate basic and applied research on environmental health disparities; (4) Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training Program (MHIRT) awards enable U.S. institutions to tailor short-term basic science, biomedical and behavioral mentored student international research training opportunities to address global issues related to understanding, reducing, and eliminating health disparities; (5) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program increases private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; encourages small business participation in Federal research and development; and fosters and encourages participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation; (6) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program stimulates and fosters scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; fosters technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions; increases private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and fosters and encourages participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation; (7) Health Disparities Research Project Grants (RPG) support innovative projects to enhance our understanding of biological mechanisms, social, behavioral, and health services that can directly and demonstrably contribute to the improvement in minority health and the elimination of health disparities which includes the (8) Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) build capacity for basic biomedical and/or behavioral research, clinical and translational research (RCTR) and a network (RCTN) by focusing on institutional resource development, such as supporting core research facilities and staff, purchasing advanced instrumentation, and laboratory renovations/alterations (9) Clinical Research Education and Career Development (CRECD) Awards provide didactic training and mentored clinical research experiences to develop independent researchers who can lead clinical research studies, especially those addressing health disparities; (10) Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. (11) NIH Research Conference Grant and NIH Research Conference Cooperative Agreement Programs support high-quality conferences that are relevant to the minority health and health disparities; (12) Transdisciplinary Collaborative Centers for Health Disparities Research comprise regional coalitions of academic institutions, community organizations, service providers and systems, government agencies and other stakeholders conducting coordinated research, implementation and dissemination activities that transcend customary approaches and “silo” organizational structures to address critical questions at multiple levels in innovative ways focused on priority research areas in minority health and health disparities; (13) Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowshi
Types of Assistance (060):

Individuals and public and private institutions, both non-profit and for-profit, who propose to establish, expand, and conduct research, promote or engage in research training, and outreach activities that contribute to improving minority health and/or eliminating health disparities. Endowment grants: Only NIMHD Centers of Excellence or Section 736 health professional schools (see 42 U.S.C. 293) with net endowment assets less than or equal to 50 percent of the national median of endowment funds at institutions that conduct similar biomedical research or training of health professionals are eligible for the research endowment awards. All applicants must have an NIMHD Center of Excellence Award or HRSA Centers of Excellence Award at the time of award of an NIMHD Research Endowment Grant. SBIR grants: Domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which the research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. Small business concerns must be at least 51 percent US owned by individuals and independently operated and/or at least 51 percent owned and controlled by another (one) for-profit business concern that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more individuals. The research must be performed in the U.S. or its possessions. STTR grants: Domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which the research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees) that "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution.

Applications for the various programs should be submitted to the NIH office that is responsible for the receipt of applications, and in such form and manner as the application prescribes. (All information pertaining to grants hereinafter, also apply to Endowment Grants unless otherwise noted). Research Grants: Applications must be prepared electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF 424 (Research and Research-Related). Visit the following link to obtain application information and instructions for all applications types including fellowships, SBIR/STTR (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide.html). Application must be made electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). For further assistance contact Grants Info, Telephone: (301) 435-0714, Email: Grantslnfo@nih.gov.

Each eligible application will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate Scientific Review Group in accordance with NIH policies and procedures. The National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD) will conduct the second-level review of the applications.

Approximately 6 to 9 months.
SBIR and STTR grants: Approximately 7 to 8 months.