Advice on Obtaining NIH Funding for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research: Interview with Dr. Karen Parker

 H. Jonathon Rendina, PhD, MPH^✉; HIV and Sexual Health SIG Chair

Karen Parker, PhD, MSW

Dr. Karen Parker is the Director of the Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office within the NIH Office of the Director. Dr. Parker holds an MSW and PhD in Social Work and was formerly Acting Branch Chief of the Office of Science Planning and Assessment and Women’s Health Officer within the National Cancer Institute. We asked her to provide her thoughts on funding opportunities at NIH for sexual and gender minority health research.
 

What are the emerging topics in SGM research right now?

Sexual and gender minority health research is a nascent and growing field of scientific inquiry. While I am happy to say that research in this space continues to expand, there are still many unanswered questions relating to the health of SGM individuals across various chronic health conditions, especially when considering the intersections of sexual orientation and gender identity with other identities and their impact on health outcomes. Moreover, there is a dearth of research within certain subpopulations among sexual and gender minorities, including research on bisexual and bi+ individuals and transgender and gender non-conforming populations. Other emerging topics in this field include life course considerations and social determinants of SGM health.
 

What advice would you give to someone that is starting out in the field of SGM health research?

We need more researchers in this field that are committed to expanding our understanding of the unique health concerns and issues of SGM populations. My advice to someone starting out in this field is to never feel discouraged in pursuing your research passions. This field requires individuals that are tenacious in their scientific endeavors. We sometimes hear of investigators who don’t feel supported by their mentors or institutions when pursuing research within SGM populations. To those investigators, I say “stick it out.” Existing literature is consistent in demonstrating that SGM populations encounter significant health disparities in comparison to other groups and that more research is needed to better assess and understand those disparities. We need you!
 

What are important factors that contribute to success in obtaining funding?

For those of you interested in obtaining funding, I would strongly recommend that you first develop a network of scientific mentors and collaborators within the field, especially with those who have successfully been funded for their work. I’d recommend using NIH tools to develop these networks, including RePORTER. Using NIH RePORTER, you can search for previously funded and active projects relating to SGM health research. You can then look up information about the principal investigator, as well as the NIH Program Officer associated with that project. I cannot stress enough how helpful it is to reach out to a Program Officer if you are interested in applying for a grant. They are an invaluable tool in helping to navigate the application process.