NIH Hosts Listening Sessions on Racial and Ethnic Equity

By: Jacqueline Robinson-Hamm
Thursday, December 2, 2021
National Institutes of Health (NIH) is hosting more than a dozen listening sessions focused on racial and ethnic equity in December through February. This effort is part of NIH’s UNITE initiative to reduce barriers to racial and ethnic equity in the biomedical research workforce. The agency’s UNITE listening sessions are organized by stakeholder category, with each group of stakeholders having one or two opportunities to join these meetings. Additional information, a full list of session dates and times, and registration information can be found on the event website. 

Key upcoming listening sessions of interest include:

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities: December 2, 1–2:30 pm ET, and January 11, 3–4:30 pm ET
• Foundations and Professional Societies: December 6, 12–1:30 pm ET
• Minority-Serving Colleges and Universities: December 9, 6–7:30 pm ET, and January 12, 12–1:30 pm ET
• Nonprofit Organizations, Community-Based Organizations, and Advocacy Organizations: December 14 and January 18, 6–7:30 pm ET both days
• Health Centers and Systems: January 13, 6–7:30 pm ET
• Students and Trainees: January 26, 6–7:30 pm ET
• Research Staff (assistants, associates, technicians): January 27, 3–4:30 pm ET
• Colleges and Universities: February 1, 1–2:30 pm ET

Previously, FASEB responded to NIH’s Request for Information pertaining to strengthening racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in the biomedical research workforce. In those comments, FASEB encouraged additional extramural stakeholder engagement as NIH moves forward with the UNITE initiative.