The National Academies Releases New Report on Using Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research
In 2023, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened an expert committee to assess the current use of racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research, review existing guidance for researchers, and provide new guidance for future use. Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, the Contact Principal Investigator of the RCMI Coordinating Center, served as a Committee member and Publication Co-author. The resulting 2024 report, Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research, outlines nine actionable recommendations and associated resources for advancing the responsible use of race and ethnicity.
The recommendations address how to:
- Support sustained community engagement.
- Decide whether to use race and ethnicity in different research contexts.
- Characterize and disclose limitations of datasets that include racial and ethnic information.
- Identify factors to investigate instead of or alongside race and ethnicity.
- Include overlooked populations in analysis.
Access the report and supporting materials, including an interactive resource, action guides for research funders and journals, educational one-pagers, and FAQs on the project webpage.
ADDITIONAL NATIONAL ACADEMIES RESOURCES
- Using Population Descriptors in Genetics and Genomics Research: A New Framework for an Evolving Field (2023)
- Examining the History, Consequences, and Effects of Race-Based Clinical Algorithms on Health Equity: Proceedings of a Workshop (2023)
- Ending Unequal Treatment: Strategies to Achieve Equitable Health Care and Optimal Health for All (2024)
- The State of the U.S. Biomedical and Health Research Enterprise: Strategies for Achieving a Healthier America (2024)