PEDIATRICS Vol. 53 No. 5 May 1974, pp. 706-711
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Recipients of Research Grants From NICHD: Do Age, Sex, Type of Degree Affect Funding Chances?

Gerald D. LaVeck M.D.1, Lillian R. Freedman B.A.1, Helen H. Walter B.A.1, and Florence S. Steinberg M.S.1

1 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Whereas in our 1967 study there existed a statistically significant difference between approval rates of young investigators and senior investigators on NICHD research grant applications, no such difference existed in 1970-1971 rates. Nor was there a significant age difference in the funding rates in either period. While the applicants under age 35 may have lost a little ground in approval rates, they are obviously holding their own and appear to be competing on the basis of merit alone with investigators of all ages.

Similarly, the present study developed no evidence of any discrimination by sex. Women had slightly, but not significantly, lower approval rates than men. However, their funding rates were on a par with the men.

The Ph.D.s and M.D.s in the sample received approximately the same approval rates, but M.D.s were somewhat more successful in winning funding.

There were no significant differences in funding success by age, sex, or type of degree in terms of numbers of applicants. However, in terms of funds awarded, significant differences did exist. The older investigators fared better than the younger; men did better than women; M.D.s had higher rates than Ph.D.s. On the average M.D.s received substantially larger grants than Ph.D.s; men's grants were larger than women's; and the seasoned investigators received more money than the younger.

Of all the NICHD programs, the largest number of applications in the sample were in the Center for Population Research. PR applications also enjoyed the highest funding rate. The young investigators in that program did exceptionally well, with a very good funding rate of 65%.

Biomedical research applications fared significantly better than behavioral in both approval and funding.

The hypothetical investigator having the highest probability of funding in this period would be an M.D. between the ages of 35 and 40 whose application for support of biomedical research was assigned to the Center for Population Research. This investigator could be either a man or a woman, but if a woman her dollar support would be smaller.

Submitted on August 9, 1973
Accepted on November 19, 1973