Science published a letter co-authored by Sindy Escobar Alvarez, program director for medical research at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF), Betsy Myers, DDCF’s previous program director for medical research, and two others, which provides recommendations for funders on how to increase diversity in their grant recipient pools by removing barriers to participation and implementing procedures to attract applicants from backgrounds underrepresented in their fields to facilitate greater equity in their processes.
Specific measures outlined in the letter include clearly articulating the importance of diversity and inclusion to the mission of the foundation; being transparent about review processes and criteria by holding informational webinars; helping underrepresented scientists gain access to mentorship opportunities through national and local programs; recruiting a diverse group of reviewers and examining award criteria for biases rooted in inequity; and challenging institutions to analyze and disclose internal support available for candidates from historically marginalized groups, among other guidance.
Read more about these insights and recommendations in Science.