The request for research proposals opens on September 15, 2023 and closes on December 1, 2023, with disbursements to commence in 2024.

The Dermatology Foundation (DF) and the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) are joining forces to advance health equity in dermatology with the Sanofi-Regeneron Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Mid-Career Award.

The award aims to expand the understanding of dermatological issues impacting underrepresented or underserved groups in medicine. Administered and promoted by the DF/SOCS Collaborative, this award will leverage the DF's experience and infrastructure in award development and management, along with the SOCS's expertise in DEI and deep reach into the community of DEI investigators. 

About the Sanofi-Regeneron Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mid-Career Award

• All research must be conducted in the US under the sponsorship of a department/division of dermatology that is The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education(ACGME)-approved for training in dermatology. Applicants must meet the DF's general eligibility requirement, in addition to the award-specific requirements at the time of funding.
• The request for research proposals opens on September 15 and closes on December 1, 2023, with disbursements to commence in 2024.

Award Funding

Each Award will provide $100,000 in annual funding for up to three years. Award dollars could be used for any combination of salary and related benefits, and project expenses supporting a meritorious research project. A total of three awards will be available for funding.

Selection Process

Each of the award recipients will be selected by the DF and SOCS Collaborative according to a well-defined evaluation process based on the National Institutes of Health procedure for research grants. The collaborative review process will identify worthy applicants—talented researchers with the ideas, thought leadership and experience needed to pave the way for scientific advancements and improvements in patient care.

Eligibility Requirements

Each applicant must meet the DF's stringent eligibility requirements, including, but not limited to:

• The proposed project must address an issue impacting groups underrepresented/underserved in medicine. Award applicants belonging to groups underrepresented/underserved in medicine are encouraged to apply for this award.
• A strong demonstrated commitment to research.
• At least 75% of their time is devoted to research.
• Appropriate training and experience in relevant research.
• A faculty appointment in an accredited dermatology department/division, within 12 years of appointment as an Assistant Professor.
• An MD, DO, MD/PhD or PhD degree.

Application Timeline

Application packages for the Award will be accepted through the Dermatology Foundation online portal beginning September 15 through December 1 of each year for funding beginning July 1 of the following year.

"The Dermatology Foundation is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the Skin of Color Society on the Sanofi-Regeneron sponsored DEI mid-career award.  We believe this award can be transformative in supporting the next generation of clinical, translational, and basic researchers in this critical area," comments Janet A. Fairley, MD, FAAD, President of the Dermatology Foundation and Strauss Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa, in a news release. "Furthermore, our research programs need to reflect the changing demographics and skin problems in the U.S. and this program will help us achieve this aim."

"We are honored to collaborate with the Dermatology Foundation on this extraordinary opportunity to support highly trained investigators with a special interest in skin of color dermatology whose work will contribute much-needed research into dermatologic diseases affecting our patients of color," says Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, Skin of  Color Society President (2023-2024), and Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion at Weill Cornell Medicine.

"Given the dire need for more research into skin conditions that disproportionately impact underrepresented/underserved patients, this generous grant from Sanofi-Regeneron will facilitate seminal contributions to science, which will ultimately bring about health equity for patients," adds John E. Harris, MD, PhD, FAAD, Chair of the Skin of Color Society's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Research Grant Committee (2023-2024), Chair of Dermatology, Director of the Autoimmune Therapeutics Institute and Director of the Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center at UMass Chan Medical School, and past recipient of research grants and awards from both the Dermatology Foundation and the Skin of Color Society.

For more information, visit https://dermatologyfoundation.org/rap/

PHOTO CAPTION:

Pictured from left: John Bournas, DF Executive Director; Sewon Kang, MD, FAAD, DF Vice President; Andrew Korotzer, PhD, Regeneron; Deb Sierka, PharmD, Sanofi; Janet Fairley, MD, FAAD, DF President; Valerie M. Harvey, MD, MPH, FAAD, SOCS Immediate Past President; Jonathan Weiss, MD, FAAD, DF Board member, and Kimberly Miller, SOCS Executive Director.