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Issued by

Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO)

Purpose

The Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO) in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), is developing the Fiscal Years (FYs) 2026 – 2030 NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Sexual and Gender Minority Health (SGM) Research. NIH is publishing this Notice to solicit input from the scientific research community, clinical practice communities, patient and family advocates, scientific or professional organizations, federal partners, HHS and NIH staff, other interested constituents; and the public on topics to consider for the next strategic plan to optimize NIH’s research investments.

Background

“Sexual and gender minority” is an umbrella term that includes, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, queer, and/or intersex. Individuals with same-sex or -gender attractions or behaviors and those with variations in sex characteristics are also included. These populations also encompass those who do not self-identify with one of these terms but whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or reproductive development is characterized by non-binary constructs of sexual orientation, gender, and/or sex.

The SGMRO at https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/sgmro coordinates SGM health research and activities by working directly with the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. The Office was officially established in September 2015 within DPCPSI.

In accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act, NIH is required to regularly update their strategic plans. In 2020, NIH launched its Strategic Plan to Advance Research on the Health and Well-being of Sexual and Gender Minorities, FYs 2021-2025 at https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/SGMStrategicPlan_2021_2025.pdf. The current strategic plan is NIH’s second strategic plan focused on SGM health research and has provided the NIH with a framework to improve the health of SGM populations through increased research and support of scientists conducting SGM health-related research. In January 2023, SGMRO published a mid-course review at https://dpcpsi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/SGMRO-StrategicPlan-MidCourseReview-Report-5-508.pdfof the current NIH SGM strategic plan that provided recommendations to support further progress on the goals described therein. To establish NIH priorities in SGM health-related research for the next five years, SGMRO requests input from SGM health, research, and related communities in refining the goals of the FY26 – FY30 strategic plan.

 

Request for Information

Please provide your perspective on the following topics:

• The highest priority needs, and emerging areas of opportunity related to SGM health research at NIH.
• Actions that NIH should prioritize to advance SGM health-related research.
• Partnerships NIH should pursue, both inside and outside of government, to advance SGM health-related research.
• Any other relevant topics that NIH should consider when developing the next NIH-Wide strategic plan for SGM health research.

How to Submit a Response

All responses should be submitted electronically at the RFI (nih.gov) https://rfi.grants.nih.gov/?s=660c63fa171bc46e9c038e92 submission website by 5:00 pm (ET) on July 15, 2024. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response.

NIH encourages organizations (e.g., patient advocacy groups, professional organizations) to submit a single response reflective of the views of the organization or membership as a whole.

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 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 NIH 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 opportunity announcements. 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:

Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO)

SGMRO@nih.gov