Increasing Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce: Actions for Improving Evidence

The participation of underrepresented individuals in the biomedical sciences, as well as in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is a critical issue affecting our nation’s health and the future of research. By 2050, less than 50 percent of the general population will be non-Hispanic whites, making the U.S. a majority-minority country (United States Census Bureau [US Census], 2014). In higher education, a diverse learning environment increases students’ exploration of diverse perspectives, reduces levels of racial prejudice, and increases tolerance of alternative points of view and other human differences. This report provides a set of specific actions—including pilots, cross-institutional studies, and analysis of national datasets—to strengthen the scientific evidence needed to guide university interventions in the future.