Race Disparity in Grants:Empirical Solutions Vital

摘要

There is a pressing moral imperative to eliminate racial disparity such as the success gap in R01 awards for black researchers reported by D. K. Ginther et al. ("Race, ethnicity, and NIH research awards," Reports, 19 August, p. 1015). However, it was troubling to read the reactionary and unscientific proposals offered in response to the finding ("NIH uncovers racial disparity in grant awards," J. Kaiser, News & Analysis, 19 August, p. 925). These include NIH "brainstorm" panels to increase success and even the chilling notion of having "reviewers and staff undergo tests to learn about implicit biases," presumably with the use of questionably valid "implicit