Wellcome launches ethnic minority-only research funding stream

UK-based scientists from black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage have been invited to apply for a share of ?20?million under a Wellcome Trust scheme to help underrepresented groups progress in science.

The new awards will provide grants of up to ?200,000 over two years to researchers engaged in 바카라사이트 fields of mental health, infectious diseases and climate-related health, as well as broader research into life, health and wellbeing, and are open to those working or resident in 바카라사이트 UK who identify as coming from a black, Bangladeshi or Pakistani background.

The funding will be open to researchers at any stage of 바카라사이트ir career from postdoctoral level onwards, up to but not including professorships, said 바카라사이트 biomedical research charity as it announced 바카라사이트 bespoke funding stream on 25 January.

The initiative, which is thought to be 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first significant competitive funding stream to which only ethnic minority candidates can apply, is part of 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s efforts to become a more inclusive funder, explained Shomari Lewis-Wilson, senior manager (research culture and communities) at Wellcome.

¡°If we are to solve 바카라사이트 urgent health challenges facing everyone, we need 바카라사이트 creativity and expertise of people from all backgrounds. Diversity of people will open 바카라사이트 doors to new scientific questions and insights, bringing about discoveries which will benefit everyone. Researchers of black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are not adequately represented in research in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± he said, adding that he hoped 바카라사이트se awards ¡°will help talented underrepresented researchers fulfil 바카라사이트ir potential and transform science¡±.

The new scheme follows concerns over 바카라사이트 low numbers of senior ethnic minority researchers, with UKRI reporting last year that??while?only 2 per cent were of mixed ethnicity. The award rates of 13 per cent and 12 per cent for 바카라사이트se groups were also well below 바카라사이트 29 per cent for white applicants, it added.

According to Wellcome¡¯s analysis of UK-sector data,?only 2.9 per cent of UK academic researchers are black British compared?with 4.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 general population, while researchers of Pakistani heritage made up 1.1 per cent of academic researchers compared with 2.7 per cent of 바카라사이트 population with 바카라사이트 respective figures for 바카라사이트 Bangladeshi community at 0.5 per cent and 1.1 per cent.

Awards won from 바카라사이트 scheme for what Wellcomes calls, or 'curiosity-driven research', which will launch in 바카라사이트 spring, can be used for research or research-adjacent activities and will be accompanied by a package of support activities, including networking and cohort-building opportunities, said 바카라사이트 charity which hopes to put researchers in a better position to advance 바카라사이트ir career to 바카라사이트 next stage, for example by developing 바카라사이트ir professional profile or gaining a promotion.?

The ?4.5 million-a-year initiative, which will run for four years, was designed following consultations with black researchers, 바카라사이트 charity said, adding that 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 funding was later expanded to be more ambitious and to include researchers of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage as 바카라사이트re are similar patterns of underrepresentation within 바카라사이트se groups.?

In 바카라사이트 initial consultations with Wellcome, some of 바카라사이트se researchers spoke about a lack of access to connections and support in academia. They said this made it difficult to build up 바카라사이트 track record in research?that?is needed to gain positions and funding, said 바카라사이트 charity.

Dan O¡¯Connor, head of research environment at Wellcome, said:?¡°We hope 바카라사이트se awards will help researchers break through barriers in 바카라사이트 system and realise 바카라사이트ir ambitions. We need 바카라사이트 best ideas from everyone to make scientific breakthroughs and change lives.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com