NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers

NIH Director Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni created the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers to examine issues raised in the National Academies report, Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, and to respond to the challenges issued to government funding agencies to maximize the potential of women scientists and engineers. The Working Group has been carefully considering the recommendations in the National Academies report and developing innovative strategies and tangible actions that can be implemented to promote the advancement of women in research careers both within the NIH intramural community and throughout the extramural research community.

Dr. Zerhouni asked Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health and Director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health to co-chair the Working Group, which she enthusiastically accepted. Before departing the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni encouraged the members to continue to work towards even greater accomplishments, noting that this will be a long journey, and sustaining advancement of women in biomedical careers will require persistent attention. Prior to her retirement in August 2011, Dr. Pinn credited the continued efforts of the Working Group in making many important changes to NIH intramural and extramural practices. She noted that, in the past few years, she had received more requests for talks on women in science than on any other topic, and encouraged the Working Group to remain active and focused. The Working Group is currently co-chaired by NIH Director, Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and ORWH Director, Janine Austin Clayton, M.D.

The NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers is an internal NIH Committee. However, we welcome input from the extramural community and the public on this important issue and we will be providing opportunities for comments and feedback at public forums.

Working Group Structure

Working Group Reports

The Formation of the Working Group

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This page last updated: September 26, 2012