Current Status of National Institutes of Health Research Funding for Women Surgeon-Scientists

Abstract

ImportanceWomen have made substantial advancements in academic surgery, but research funding disparities continue to hamper their progress, and current literature on the status of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding awarded to women surgeon-scientists appears to be conflicting.ObjectiveTo examine gender-based differences in NIH funding awarded to surgeon-scientists by comparing total grant amounts awarded and the distribution of grants by gender and research type.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study was performed using a previously created database of NIH-funded surgeons from 2010 to 2020. Active physician data from the Association of American Medical Colleges were used to calculate total surgeon populations. This study was performed at the NIH using the NIH internal data platform, iSearch Grants. A total of 715 men and women surgeon-scientists funded by the NIH in 2010 and 1031 funded in 2020 were included in the analysis.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was the number of women among the total number of surgeons who received NIH grants and the total grant amounts awarded to them. Bivariate χ2 analyses were performed using population totals and substantiated by z tests of population proportions.ResultsThis study included 715 physicians (n = 579 men [81.0%]) in 2010 and 1031 physicians (n = 769 men [74.6%]) in 2020. In 2020, women comprised 27.4% of the surgical workforce and 25.4% of surgeons with research funding in the US, but they received only 21.7% of total NIH research funding awarded to all surgeons. The number of funded women surgeon-scientists, however, significantly increased from 2010 to 2020 (262 [25.4%] in 2020 vs 136 [19.0%] in 2010; P < .001) as did their funding ($189.7 million [21.7%] in 2020 vs $75.9 million [12.3%] in 2010; P < .001). Furthermore, the proportion of US women surgeons overall with NIH funding significantly increased in 2020 vs 2010 (0.7% vs 0.5%; P < .001). Basic science, clinical outcomes, and clinical trial R01 grants also increased among women surgeon-scientists. Women and men K grant holders had a similar mean (SD) number of R01 application attempts before success (2.7 [3.01] vs 2.3 [3.15]; P = .60) and similar K-to-R award conversion rates (23.5% vs 26.7%; P = .55).Conclusions and RelevanceThis cross-sectional study found an increasing number of women surgeon-scientists receiving NIH funding in 2020 vs 2010 as well as increases in the median grant amounts awarded. Although these results are promising, a discrepancy remains in the proportion of women in the surgical workforce compared with those funded by the NIH and the total grant amounts awarded to them.

Gender Disparity in National Institutes of Health Funding Among Surgeon-Scientists From 1995 to 2020

“…8 Our findings are consistent with previously published findings that men and women surgeon-scientists have similar rates of converting NIH career development awards to R01 grants and similar numbers of R01 application attempts prior to success. 22 Despite the success of women surgeon-scientists, the number of women surgeon-scientists is still relatively small compared with the proportion of women academic surgeons. A prior study concluded that there is an overrepresentation of women surgeon-scientists compared with academic surgeons.…”

“…This is a remarkable achievement that is not universal among the biomedical research workforce, where women and men biomedical scientists are of comparable age when obtaining their first R01 grant . Our findings are consistent with previously published findings that men and women surgeon-scientists have similar rates of converting NIH career development awards to R01 grants and similar numbers of R01 application attempts prior to success …”

“… 8 Our findings are consistent with previously published findings that men and women surgeon-scientists have similar rates of converting NIH career development awards to R01 grants and similar numbers of R01 application attempts prior to success. 22 …”

Demographic and Academic Productivity Trends Among American Head & Neck Society Fellows Over a 20-Year Period

“…Prior research reveals that access to research funding, despite some progress in the past decade, still varies substantively between women and men. [18][19][20][21][22] Women's scientific contributions are systematically less likely to be recognized, resulting in a gender gap in attribution. 23 Furthermore, women experience less sponsorship (the public commitment of a leader to support the career advancement of another individual), which is associated with visibility, credibility, and professional networking.…”

“…The factors associated with differences in academic productivity between men and women head and neck surgeons as their careers progress are substantial. Prior research reveals that access to research funding, despite some progress in the past decade, still varies substantively between women and men . Women’s scientific contributions are systematically less likely to be recognized, resulting in a gender gap in attribution .…”