# Enhancing Workforce Diversity in the Bone, Mineral, and Musculoskeletal Field

> **NIH NIH R25** · AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BONE & MINERAL RES · 2024 · $145,800

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In the US, African Americans (or Blacks), American Indians and Alaska Natives, Latinx, Native Hawaiians, and
other Pacific Islanders are underrepresented at all career stages in biomedical research. Factors contributing to
these disparities include decreased financial support, decreased peer and community support, and biased
promotion and grant funding review processes. Thus, the scientific community, including institutions and
professional societies, is called upon to respond to these disparities by recruiting, supporting, training, and
retraining underrepresented minorities (URMs). A diverse representation that reflects the US population leads to
more creative, innovative, and rigorous science. This proposal recognizes that the academic hurdles faced by
URM scientists/clinicians are related to the lack of access, training, and support as well as cultural biases within
institutions. The American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) is committed to addressing this goal
by offering the Excellence in Scientific Training and Professional Development (EXCEL) program, which will
deliver state-of-the-art research techniques and high-quality professional development to early-career
scientists/clinicians who identify as URM and who have research interests in fields related to the missions of the
ASBMR and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). In this R25 project,
a series of initiatives are proposed to attract talented early-career scientists from underrepresented backgrounds
with ASBMR- and NIDDK-relevant research interests and prepare them to serve as future leaders by offering
professional, scientific, and technical skill development and networking opportunities. The EXCEL cohorts will
undergo advanced education and instruction crucial for their success through the ASBMR Leadership Education
for Advancement (LEAD) Program. The ASBMR LEAD program will provide opportunities for the EXCEL cohort
to access leadership development training over the course of 10 months, culminating in a networking reception
at the annual ASBMR meeting. The training program will be led by professional leadership educators and senior
ASBMR members, and further supported by peer networking groups and discussions. In addition, early-career
scientists will be provided with grant funding to use for scientific or technical skill development activities, along
with 1:1 mentorship by a senior ASBMR member. Finally, we aim to improve the culture of ASBMR to be more
inclusive of URM by offering: 1) culturally aware mentorship training to society leadership and 2) offering all
ASBMR members to attend a workshop intended to eliminate bias in the peer-review process. Successful
completion of these Aims will provide critical access to networking opportunities, future scientific and professional
collaborations, and career development for URM biomedical researchers. Of equal importance, the success of
these Aims will create a shi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10840367
- **Project number:** 5R25DK135989-02
- **Recipient organization:** AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BONE & MINERAL RES
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY L BOUXSEIN
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $145,800
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-15 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10840367

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10840367, Enhancing Workforce Diversity in the Bone, Mineral, and Musculoskeletal Field (5R25DK135989-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10840367. Licensed CC0.

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