Abstract
This research expands efforts to understand differences in NIH funding associated with the
self-identified race and ethnicity of applicants. We collected data from 2,397 NIH Biographical
Sketches submitted between FY 2003 and 2006 as part of new NIH R01 Type 1 applications
to obtain detailed information on the applicants’ training and scholarly activities,
including publications. Using these data, we examined the association between an NIH R01
applicant’s race or ethnicity and the probability of receiving an R01 award. The applicant’s
publication history as reported in the NIH biographical sketch and the associated bibliometrics
narrowed the black/white funding gap for new and experienced investigators in
explanatory models. We found that black applicants reported fewer papers on their Biosketches,
had fewer citations, and those that were reported appeared in journals with lower
impact factors. Incorporating these measures in our models explained a substantial portion
of the black/white funding gap. Although these predictors influence the funding gap, they do
not fully address race/ethnicity differences in receiving a priority score.