Thread by @Lola_UMich

~1 yr ago, we called on @NIH to #FundBlackscientists. The community's response was inspiring. ~50 other publications has since followed. The NIH director acknowledged the longstanding disparity was wrong. Then... well... silence. Why should we care?

cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

When Black scientists are underfunded their perspective is lost. "The people who get to do the science determine the science that gets done" Let's stop pretending we don't bring our social perspective to bench. It's why we have racial healthcare disparity.
theconversation.com/black-biomedic…

Non-diverse biomedical research workforce creates racial blindspots that lead to us producing racist technologies. Look no further than the Pulse Oximeter.
theconversation.com/more-health-in…

"There’s more. When Black scientific faculty leave institutions, they aren’t in the classroom to show Black students that they too belong in the prestigious work of science and medicine. Minorities persist in science when they see people like themselves." #TheCycleIsVicious.

A non-diverse STEM workforce hurts the US economy. As companies bake in racial blindspots they are leaving money on the table - combined buying power of Blacks and Latino/a is ~3.1 Trillion. Tech made by and for diverse population will incur more sales.

The news is not all bad. While we wait for NIH and other federal funding agencies to act, others are stepping up... Grateful for the "@genentech Research Awards Research to Reverse Racial Disparity in Grant Funding," which provided $50,000 for 9 PI to bridge the gap.

@ChanZuckerberg launched CZI Science Diversity Leadership (SDL) program - to recognize & further the leadership and scientific accomplishments of excellent biomedical researchers who have a record of promoting DEI n in their fields. Happy Birthday to FBS!
czi-sciencediversityleadership.nas.edu

The @ChanZuckerberg program did exactly what we called on NIH to do - create funding programs that prioritize and reward diversity. Any one can apply as long as they have "a record of promoting DEI." Imagine how much of the toxicity in academia would go away if all hands on deck?