Ritu Banga Healthcare Disparities Research Awards (Formerly the Dean's Diversity and Healthcare Disparity Research Awards)

Ajay and Ritu Banga

Dean Robert Harrington, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office of the Research Dean are pleased to announce the eighth round of funding for the Ritu Banga Healthcare Disparities Research Awards. Generously endowed by Ritu and Board Fellow Ajay Banga, the awards will support excellence in research to improve the health of women and underrepresented minorities and/or to reduce health disparities in healthcare systems and clinical settings, either locally or globally. Research to improve the diversity and gender balance of the biomedical workforce will also be supported, as the lack of a representative workforce can be linked to health disparities. A recent report from Deloitte shows that health inequities account for approximately $320 billion in annual healthcare spending signaling an unsustainable crisis for the industry. If unaddressed, this figure could grow to US$1 trillion or more by 2040. We must move the needle and better confront inequality.

The awards are designed to further Weill Cornell Medicine’s goal of becoming a national leader in advancing diversity, inclusion, and gender equity within academic medicine. We seek proposals for basic, translational, clinical, informatics, or outcomes research that addresses health disparity areas including, but not limited to race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, differing standards of healthcare, insurance status, age, geography, sexual orientation, and cultural beliefs. Projects that enhance the diversity pipeline either through research or the inclusion of diverse personnel are also encouraged.

Special Emphasis Areas:

The primary criterion to receive this award remains, however, we have a particular interest in proposals that have the following: 

• Short-term (within 5 years) potential for impact on the target patient population
• Collaborative projects that pair fundamental science and clinical investigators on a disease or condition that directly impacts underrepresented or marginalized groups. For example, data analytics on therapies for sickle cell disease, predicting disease outcomes in underrepresented groups, etc.
• Projects with potential for direct clinical impact

The Ritu Banga Healthcare Disparities Research Awards will provide $50,000 in support for one year to faculty members whose exceptional research aligns with the program’s mission.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be full-time faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine. 
• Faculty applicants must be Instructors, Assistant Professors, and Associate Professors with a primary appointment at Weill Cornell Medicine. 
• Pairing with more senior faculty members to provide mentorship/guidance will be permitted, however, the grant must be to the junior member and a clear indication of how the project will enhance the development of an independent career for the more junior member will be required. 
• Departmental commitment to the retention/faculty development of junior applicants is required. 
• Applicants must be able to complete the proposed work within 1 year of receiving the award.  
• Recipients must maintain their appointment at Weill Cornell Medicine for the full duration of the award (until June 30, 2026) 
• Applicants must have a well-developed feasible, significant, and innovative research plan focused on diversity, women’s health, diseases that disproportionately affect diverse communities, or the reduction of health disparities. 
• Returning awardees are eligible to apply as long as the current project is clearly distinct from the previously funded project.
• Prior applicants that were not selected for an award may apply as long as the project fulfills eligibility criteria.
• A salary cap will be imposed on all project budgets; the funds allocated to the PI’s salary and fringe benefits may not exceed 25% of the total budget. 
• Salary re-budgeting post-award is not allowed.

Applications due: 11:59 pm ET Wednesday 18 December 2024 

For More Information and Instructions on How to Apply Click Here. 

If you have additional questions, please email ritubangaquestions@med.cornell.edu.

List of Prior Awardees and Projects     

Faculty 

"Long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness associated with gestational diabetes (GDM) screening methods in minority women: a prospective longitudinal cohort study" 

PostDoc / Fellow