In a recent study by Ginther et al., the probability of receiving a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) RO1 award
was related to the applicant’s race/ethnicity. The results indicate black/African-American applicants were 10% less
likely than white peers to receive an award, after controlling for background and qualifications. It has generated a
widespread debate regarding the unfairness of the NIH grant review process and its correction. In this paper, the
work by Ginther et al. was augmented by pairing analysis, axiomatically-individualized productivity and normalized
funding success measurement. Although there are racial differences in R01 grant success rates, normalized figures
of merit for funding success explain the discrepancy. The suggested “leverage points for policy intervention” are in
question and require deeper and more thorough investigations. Further adjustments in policies to remove racial
disparity should be made more systematically for equal opportunity, rather than being limited to the NIH review
process.  Click here for full article…