The Equity and Equality in Diagnostics Award provides funding for innovative, data-driven, and community-engaged projects that identify and mitigate bias in pathology and laboratory medicine. A grant of up to $10,000.00 USD will be offered to support one-year projects that demonstrate how pathology can improve equity and equality in patient care through one or more of the following approaches:
- Bias Identification: Assessing disparities in diagnostic processes, sample representation, or testing algorithms.
- Equity Intervention: Designing and implementing educational, procedural, or community-based solutions that reduce diagnostic inequity.
- Data Transparency and Inclusion: Developing methods or tools to increase representation of diverse populations in diagnostic datasets or clinical trials.
- Community Connection: Collaborating with community clinics or See, Test & Treat® programs to advance knowledge and access to clinical trials for underrepresented groups.
Priority consideration: Projects that demonstrate sustainability or potential for scale across other institutions.
Eligibility
All applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, or religion. Applicants will be considered without unlawful discrimination based on protected characteristics. Each applicant should determine whether participation requires institutional approval or disclosure under their own NIH award terms and outside activity policies.
The following individuals are encouraged to apply:
•Pathology residents, fellows, and early-career pathologists (within 5 years of board certification).
•Medical students engaged in pathology-related research or community health projects may apply with a faculty sponsor.
•Collaborative proposals between academic departments, community laboratories, or nonprofit partners are encouraged.
Applicants unable to meet any of these components are not eligible to apply for funding.
To Apply
The following materials are required to apply:
- Project Title and Abstract (300 words max)
- Project Proposal detailing:
- Background and rationale
- Objectives and Methods
- Expected outcomes and measures of success
- Relevance to equity, equality, inclusion, or bias reduction in pathology
- Budget and Justification (how funds will be used within 12 months)
- Letter of Institutional Support or Mentor Endorsement on letterhead
- Optional: Letters of collaboration from community or research partners
- Curriculum vitae (limit to five pages, biographical sketch format acceptable)
- Photo (preference for a photo featuring your face or face & shoulders; 1+ megabyte; color; with or without lab coat; neutral background; the photo you submit to be used in web and print media for grant recognition; no selfies please)
If Selected
Awardees will be expected to:
- Submit a mid-year progress update summarizing milestones achieved, any barriers encountered with any steps to mitigate them, and expectations for finishing the project.
- Provide a final report within 60 days of project completion, including:
- Summary of results and findings
- Impact on diversity, inclusion, or patient outcomes
- Plans for dissemination or future continuation
- Encouraged submission for presentation or poster at the CAP Annual Meeting
- Encouraged submission for publication to ARCHIVES or similarly relevant medical publication
- Present their findings at a CAP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee (DEIA) session, expanding the conversation on equity, equality, and inclusivity within the profession.
- Short video testimonial
- Acknowledge the CAP Foundation and corporate supporter(s) (e.g., AbbVie) in all publications or presentations resulting from the funded project.
The CAP Foundation may also communicate the bestowing of this award and content from your evaluation form for future promotional purposes with CAP members and donors via the Foundation website, social media channels, newsletter, or annual report.
Applications for funding are due by: December 8, 2026; anticipated project start dates February/March 2027
Equity and Equality in Diagnostics Award
The Equity and Equality in Diagnostics Award provides funding for innovative, data-driven, and community-engaged projects that identify and mitigate bias in pathology and laboratory medicine. A grant of up to $10,000.00 USD will be offered to support one-year projects that demonstrate how pathology can improve equity and equality in patient care through one or more of the following approaches:
- Bias Identification: Assessing disparities in diagnostic processes, sample representation, or testing algorithms.
- Equity Intervention: Designing and implementing educational, procedural, or community-based solutions that reduce diagnostic inequity.
- Data Transparency and Inclusion: Developing methods or tools to increase representation of diverse populations in diagnostic datasets or clinical trials.
- Community Connection: Collaborating with community clinics or See, Test & Treat® programs to advance knowledge and access to clinical trials for underrepresented groups.
Priority consideration: Projects that demonstrate sustainability or potential for scale across other institutions.
Eligibility
All applicants will be considered regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, or religion. Applicants will be considered without unlawful discrimination based on protected characteristics. Each applicant should determine whether participation requires institutional approval or disclosure under their own NIH award terms and outside activity policies.
The following individuals are encouraged to apply:
•Pathology residents, fellows, and early-career pathologists (within 5 years of board certification).
•Medical students engaged in pathology-related research or community health projects may apply with a faculty sponsor.
•Collaborative proposals between academic departments, community laboratories, or nonprofit partners are encouraged.
Applicants unable to meet any of these components are not eligible to apply for funding.
To Apply
The following materials are required to apply:
- Project Title and Abstract (300 words max)
- Project Proposal detailing:
- Background and rationale
- Objectives and Methods
- Expected outcomes and measures of success
- Relevance to equity, equality, inclusion, or bias reduction in pathology
- Budget and Justification (how funds will be used within 12 months)
- Letter of Institutional Support or Mentor Endorsement on letterhead
- Optional: Letters of collaboration from community or research partners
- Curriculum vitae (limit to five pages, biographical sketch format acceptable)
- Photo (preference for a photo featuring your face or face & shoulders; 1+ megabyte; color; with or without lab coat; neutral background; the photo you submit to be used in web and print media for grant recognition; no selfies please)
If Selected
Awardees will be expected to:
- Submit a mid-year progress update summarizing milestones achieved, any barriers encountered with any steps to mitigate them, and expectations for finishing the project.
- Provide a final report within 60 days of project completion, including:
- Summary of results and findings
- Impact on diversity, inclusion, or patient outcomes
- Plans for dissemination or future continuation
- Encouraged submission for presentation or poster at the CAP Annual Meeting
- Encouraged submission for publication to ARCHIVES or similarly relevant medical publication
- Present their findings at a CAP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Committee (DEIA) session, expanding the conversation on equity, equality, and inclusivity within the profession.
- Short video testimonial
- Acknowledge the CAP Foundation and corporate supporter(s) (e.g., AbbVie) in all publications or presentations resulting from the funded project.
The CAP Foundation may also communicate the bestowing of this award and content from your evaluation form for future promotional purposes with CAP members and donors via the Foundation website, social media channels, newsletter, or annual report.
Applications for funding are due by: December 8, 2026; anticipated project start dates February/March 2027