Rationale
The NIH recently instituted a requirement that we collect a broader array of information on the diversity (broadly defined) of our trainees. We now ask you to consider the questions below relating to physical or mental impairment and disadvantages stemming from your financial, social, cultural or educational background. Answering these questions is entirely voluntary. These data will be reported to the NIH in aggregate form, and no personally identifiable information will be released to the NIH, any other entity, private or public, outside of Washington University School of Medicine. The data will be used for no other purpose than meeting the NIH's requirement for aggregate reports of trainees for our training grant.
The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences workforce. The NIH expects efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; to improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit participants from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities. Accordingly, we are required to report to the NIH certain diversity-related data concerning its training grant applicants. Please note that self-identification is entirely voluntary. This information will not be used in a discriminatory manner. If you would like to provide such data, please complete the section below.