There are a variety of grants, fellowships, and supplements available to individuals who meet the NIH’s definition of an Underrepresented Population in the US Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise (URM). However, these funding mechanisms are underutilized because the NIH’s definition is rather broad, and many individuals don’t realize that they meet the criteria. Many also don’t realize that the NIH recognizes that underrepresentation is very context specific, and provides a means of broadening the definition of URM within different contexts to include even more individuals.

URM Defined

The NIH broadly outlines 3 groups of individuals who, based on existing data, are underrepresented in scientific research in the US. The first group focuses on racial and ethnic background, the second focuses on disability, and the third, and most expansive, includes a variety of socioeconomic factors that are often overlooked. The NIH relies on the NSF report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering for its determinations. If you have a question about inclusion as URM in Science, you can email NIHTrain@mail.nih.gov and ask, and they will get back to you with a response and information on how to proceed. This can take some time so ask early.

The NIH includes the following racial and ethnic groups in its definition of those underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. In my personal experience, individuals of mixed race, as well as individuals from North Africa and the Middle East have also been considered URM, as these groups are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences in the US. Trans people are also usually included in this group. In the biomedical sciences at the trainee level, women are not normally included as they are not underrepresented, but they can be as faculty (verify this with your PO). In other fields in mathematics and engineering where women are underrepresented, they often are included.

The second broad category covers individuals with physical or mental disabilities as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have also worked with individuals who are cancer survivors and an individual with a chronic autoimmune disorder who was included as URM based on these inclusion criteria. If you have a health-related condition that impacts your ability to participate in research, it is well worth reaching out for more information about whether or not you may be included.

The final category is the broadest and includes multiple socioeconomic determinants that can describe individuals from a disadvantaged background. In order to qualify as URM, two of the NIH’s definitions must apply to a specific individual. Briefly individuals who were 1) homeless; 2) in the foster care system; 3) eligible for the federal free or reduced cost lunch program for at least 2 years; 4) do not have a parent who has a bachelor’s degree; 5) were or are eligible for a Pell grant; 6) were eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and 7) from a rural area or health professional shortage area. While this category can require some digging to make sure specific guidelines and cutoffs are applied, it is often well worth the effort.