Table 2.

Summary of key issues and support mechanisms to promote diversity in the biomedical workforce

Key Issues Facing Diverse Trainees	Support Mechanisms
Cost of living	Adjust stipend based on regional cost of living; loan repayment assistance; institutional support for trainees with families
Starting a family, new mothers/fathers	Child care supplements for postdocs; maternity or parental leave support from university/mentor; flexibility in work hours
Exposure to science at young age	University-organized science programs for diverse high school students; better advertising/increased funding of research opportunities for diverse undergraduates
Retention of minority faculty	Accountability of universities to retain minority faculty, reflected in NIH funding decisions
Exploring non–primary investigator career options	More teaching opportunities; entrepreneurial mentorship
Restricted research directions as postdoc	Flexibility in funds for diversity supplements; Pre-K award pilot program for independent investigations
Securing extramural funding	Meetings/webinars for grant-writing forums; more transparent guidelines for writing successful grants
Finding external mentor(s)	Emphasis from NIH, NHLBI on diversity supplement/fellowship awardees to find and maintain relationship with a mentor other than primary investigator; mentor/coach system with additional peer mentoring

Definition of abbreviations: NHLBI = National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; NIH = National Institutes of Health; Pre-K = pre-NIH career development.