Key Dates

Related Announcements

None

Issued by

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Purpose

This Request for Information (RFI) invites input on identifying and addressing gaps in (1) the impact of structural racism on brain, cognitive (e.g., learning, memory, attention, decision-making), and behavioral function across the lifespan, and (2) the role of structural and systemic racism on the conduct of brain and behavioral health research. This RFI seeks input from healthcare providers, scientific research communities, patient advocacy groups, people with lived experience of brain or behavioral health disorders (e.g., substance use and mental health disorders), educators, and other interested parties. The NIH encourages organizations (e.g., patient advocacy groups, professional organizations) to submit a single response reflective of the views of the organization and membership as a whole. Responses may incorporate empirical research, lived experience, public records, and any other sources that may inform the RFI. Feedback is requested on the themes outlined below.

Background

Discriminatory behaviors and policies can lead to chronic stress at the interpersonal, intergenerational, and community levels, which can in turn affect cognitive development and can have long-term impact on stress regulation. A research gap exists in understanding the mechanisms linking racism, discrimination, and their impact on brain and behavioral health. Further, brain and behavioral research often fails to consider the impact of structural racism on the methods selected, due to issues such as measurement bias or exclusion of critical contextual factors. Causal interpretations based on limited models of health and behavior have the potential to exacerbate stigmatization of minoritized racial and ethnic groups. Taken together, transformative research on brain and behavioral health that centers structural racism requires a thoughtful, targeted, and systematic approach.   

Four NIH Institutes with programmatic interest in neuroscience and health disparities - the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities - conducted a workshop in May 2022 to advance knowledge and awareness about the impact of structural racism on the study of the human brain. The NIH now seeks input from the broader community on how to address (1) the impact of structural racism on brain, cognitive, and behavioral function across the lifespan and (2) the role of structural and systemic racism on the conduct of brain and behavioral health research. Comments may address, but are not limited to, the bulleted topics below. When appropriate, please also include hyperlinks to pertinent references, databases, or other online resources.

The impact of structural racism on brain, cognitive, and behavioral function across the lifespan:

• Distinct mechanisms of structural racism vs. other structural factors in brain and behavioral health.
• The impacts of structural racism at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels on brain and behavioral health of people in marginalized communities and public health, overall.
• Neurobiological mechanisms of how structural racism impacts brain and behavioral health.

The role of structural and systemic racism on the conduct of brain and behavioral health research:

• Recommended approaches to understand and remedy the influence of racism on current research designs and methodologies.
• Cultural differences in the perception of ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ neurocognitive function and behavior.
• Gaining cultural humility and scholarship in neurocognitive research through effective community collaboration and partnership, and diverse research teams.

In addition, tools and instrument development and validation of appropriate, culturally sensitive, and ecologically valid measures are needed for rigorous study of neurocognition in the context of structural racism.

How To Submit Responses

All responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically on the RFI submission website at https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=65fdcf352deabd6b92040662  The NIH encourages organizations (e.g., patient advocacy groups, professional organizations) to submit a single response reflective of the views of the organization and membership as a whole.

Responses must be received by June 14, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. You will see an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary and may be submitted anonymously. You may voluntarily include your name and contact information with your response. If you choose to provide NIH with this information, NIH will not share your name and contact information outside of NIH unless required by law.

Other than your name and contact information, please do not include any additional personally identifiable information or any information that you do not wish to make public. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The government will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion. Other than your name and contact information, the government reserves the right to use any submitted information on public websites; in reports; in summaries of the state of the science; in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s); or in the development of future funding opportunities.

This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and is not a solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of the government to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. Please note that the government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for use of that information.

We look forward to your input and hope that you will share this RFI opportunity with your colleagues.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Mauricio Rangel-Gomez, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-4415
Email: mauricio.rangel-gomez@nih.gov

Elizabeth Hoffman, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-594-2265
Email: elizabeth.hoffman@nih.gov

Mark Egli, Ph.D.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Phone: 301-594-6382
E-mail: megli@mail.nih.gov