OHE serves as a catalyst to strengthen the institute’s commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of all children, adults, families, and communities. OHE leads NICHD activities to create a diverse biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social scientific workforce. The office also strives to enhance research that benefits the health of all people and communities.
OHE works with partners across NICHD and beyond to:
- Review and track NICHD's progress toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) goals
- Develop and implement strategies to increase workforce diversity across NICHD and the groups it supports
- Encourage NICHD research on interventions that reduce health disparities and promote health equity
Foster career development: OHE helps connect students from all levels and researchers from underrepresented backgrounds to career-building resources. These include trainings, fellowships, and mentored research programs.
Engage with organizations and communities: OHE works with many groups for workshops, webinars, information sessions, and presentations. We share information about NIH, NICHD, the grants process, and our research and training programs. We strive to help more institutions and researchers participate in NIH programs, and to support their long-term success.
Expand health equity research: OHE connects people to opportunities that can support research on social determinants of health, health disparities, health equity, and related topics. Learn more about the NIH Loan Repayment Program, the Diversity Supplement Program, and other ways that NIH supports researchers in these fields. Reach out to us with questions.
Show representation in science: OHE helps spotlight the broad range of researchers at and supported by NICHD. If you are an NICHD-funded trainee or investigator and are interested in being featured, contact OHE. We may be able to help feature your research and career path.
- NICHD Racial and Ethnic Equity Plan (REEP) (PDF 1 MB)
The REEP outlines evidence-based methods that NICHD could use to advance racial and ethnic equity. OHE leads efforts to carry out the NICHD REEP. - NICHD Strategic Plan 2020
This plan lays out NICHD's research plans through 2024. It covers NICHD's overall research themes and goals. It also gives recommendations on scientific stewardship, accountability, and management. - NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD)
COSWD, within the NIH Office of the Director (OD), leads evidence-based activities to build and maintain cultures of inclusive excellence. This office offers resources that groups in NIH can use to build, share, act, and work together on diversity. - NIH Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Policies
Within NIH OD, EDI offers specific policies, policy statements, management directives, and other guidance for DEIA practices and procedures. - STrategies to enRich Inclusion and achieVe Equity (STRIVE) Action Plan (PDF 776 KB)
NICHD's STRIVE Action Plan recommends concrete steps to guide NICHD's DEIA activities. OHE leads efforts to carry out the STRIVE Action Plan.
- Eight Changes for Racial Equity (8CRE)
8CRE, proposed by members of the NIH community, partners with NIH to address racial inequities, discrimination, and harassment. - COSWD 21st Century Scholars Program
This virtual program engages NIH staff who are working or want to work to promote DEIA. - COSWD Strategic Plan
This plan outlines a vision for evidence-based efforts that will help NIH remain a leader in workplace diversity. - Diversity in Extramural Programs (NIH)
The NIH Diversity in Extramural Programs website offers information about promoting a diverse scientific research workforce. - Funding Mechanisms at NICHD
This webpage describes the funding mechanisms that NICHD uses to support research beyond NIH. - NICHD Small Business Programs
NICHD funds research and development at small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. - NICHD Support for Training at Universities and Other Institutions
Learn about the mechanisms that NICHD uses to fund training and career development activities at other institutions. - NIH Diversity Program Consortium
This NIH-wide consortium supports evidence-based approaches to better include people from underrepresented backgrounds in biomedical research careers. - NIH Division of Loan Repayment
These programs, established by Congress, will repay up to $50,000 of qualified educational debt annually for a researcher committed to engage in NIH mission–relevant research. - NIH Office of Intramural Research (OIR) Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
This webpage describes DEIA activities at OIR. - UNITE
The UNITE initiative acts as a think tank at NIH. It aims to identify and address structural racism that may exist within NIH and the scientific workforce. - Women in Biomedical Careers (NIH)
This website features women scientists at NIH.
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