title: Sex differences in application, success, and funding rates for NIH extramural programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors provide an analysis of sex differences in National Institutes of Health (NIH) award programs to inform potential initiatives for promoting diversity in the research workforce.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, the authors retrieved data for NIH extramural grants in the electronic Research Administration Information for Management, Planning, and Coordination II database and used statistical analysis to determine any sex differences in securing NIH funding, as well as subsequent success of researchers who had already received independent NIH support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Success and funding rates for men and women were not significantly different in most award programs. Furthermore, in programs where participation was lower for women than men, the disparity was primarily related to a lower percentage of women applicants compared with men, rather than decreased success rates or funding rates. However, for subsequent grants, both application and funding rates were generally higher for men than for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cross-sectional analysis showed that women and men were generally equally successful at all career stages, but longitudinal analysis showed that men with previous experience as NIH grantees had higher application and funding rates than women at similar career points. On average, although women received larger R01 awards than men, men had more R01 awards than women at all points in their careers. Therefore, while greater participation of women in NIH programs is under way, further action will be required to eradicate remaining sex differences.
authors.affiliation: Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. pohlhausj@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Jennifer Reineke
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pohlhaus
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Walter T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: Vivian W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Pinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002322:Career Mobility; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000191:economics*; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014146:Training Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States