Office of Special Populations and Research Training

Key Functions

The Office of Special Populations and Research Training is an institute focal point in three areas: research training, minority health, and women's health. 

• Manages the Institute's extramural research training program, including training (T), fellowship (F), career (K) awards, and research supplements, as well as the loan repayment program.
• Advises the Institute on diseases that disproportionately affect the health of minorities and women.
• Works with the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, the NIH Office of Women's Health, and other organizations to promote the interests of minorities and women in biomedical research.
• Collaborates with the program divisions to assess clinical trials, outreach, and education programs involving minorities and women.
• Develops new mechanisms to attract underrepresented minorities to research.
• Supports NIH-wide programs to attract outstanding minority students and retain faculty members: Minority Access to Research Careers, Minority Biomedical Research Support, and Research Supplements.
• Supports the Bridging the Career Gap seminar to increase the pipeline of minority scientists in biomedical research.
• Develops the NIAID Strategic Plan for Health Disparities.

Links

• What Are Health Disparities?
• NIAID Strategic Plan on Health Disparities
• Increasing Diversity in Clinical Trials: Best Practices
• Understanding Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, from the NIH Curriculum Supplements Series, Grades 9 – 12.
• NIAID Training and Career Awards
• Introduction to Biomedical Research Program
• Minority Programs Supported by NIAID
• Minorities in Biomedical Research (PDF)
• Women's Health in the U.S. (PDF)

Learn more about the rest of DEA at About DEA and see a list of Division of Extramural Activities Contacts.