About WoCRn

Photo of Dr. Vivian Pinn Welcome to the WOMEN OF COLOR RESEARCH NETWORK (WoCRn). This web site is the result of efforts of the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers to provide an instrument of outreach to women of color to assist them in navigating the NIH grants process and to receive advice on their career development. While anyone with an interest in this network is welcomed to utilize this effort, the Working Group has realized that there are some unique challenges to entering and advancing in biomedical careers for women of color. These particular concerns have been well documented and described beginning with the 1975 historic paper of Shirley Malcom, et al. (Malcom, S. M., Hall, P. Q., & Brown, J. W. (1975). The double bind: The price of being a minority woman in science. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science). The NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers has made addressing these challenges one of our priorities, and has developed this website under the leadership of Dr. J Taylor Harden and Dr. Cerise Elliott for use by women and men of color, as well as others who are committed to increasing the diversity of the biomedical workforce, and to provide a mechanism to allow you to connect with and learn from each other. The importance of networking, mentoring, and having good counsel for careers as scientists cannot be overstated, but is especially important for women of color and other minorities. It is my hope that the WoCRn will help scientists, clinicians, teachers, students, and others in the broad academic, research and scientific communities find resources and support that can assist them in being successful in their careers. I encourage you to explore all that the WoCRn can offer, from news and announcements to discussion groups and other networking tools, and we hope that you will find this a valuable resource for your research careers.

Vivian W. Pinn, M.D.

Former Director, Office of Research on Women's Health
Former Co-Chair, NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers

Janine Austin Clayton, M.D.

Director, Office of Research on Women's Health

Co-Chair, NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers

In September 2012, Dr. Janine Austin Clayton was appointed as ORWH Director and the NIH Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health. She had been serving as Acting Director of the ORWH since Dr. Pinn’s retirement in August 2011. Dr. Clayton also serves as Co-chair of the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers, along with NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. She has been a member of WoCRn, as well as a key organizer, since the very beginning.

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Collection of this information is authorized under the general authority of the National Institutes of Health to conduct and fund research and provide training assistance (42 U.S.C. 203, 241, 2891-1 and 44 U.S.C. 3101 and Sections 301 and 493 of the Public Health Service Act). The primary use of the NIH Women of Color Research Network (WoCRn) is to engage and build a community of scholars and women of color in biomedical research. The information you provide may be disclosed to NIH researchers, mentors and mentees, the NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers and the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. Submission of this information is voluntary, however, in order for us to register you in our forum and contact you with career, research, training, and scientific resources, you should complete all fields.