Scientists can now apply for NIH’s first sex- and gender-focused research grant

Today is the first day that biomedical researchers can apply for the NIH’s first sex- and gender-focused R01 grant, which is the oldest type of grant the agency offers. In recent years, the NIH has taken steps to ensure sex and gender parity among research topics and subjects — starting in 2016, for instance, the agency required that researchers account for sex as a biological variable in grant proposals. The new funding is for those looking to study the effects of sex and gender on human health. Grant recipients will also look at the basic science underlying diseases that specifically affect females, as well as other aspects of women’s health. Although the number of winners will depend on how many apply, the NIH hopes to award up to seven grants totaling $3 million over the next two years.