Is increased cost an acceptable justification for not including women, minorities, and minority subpopulations?
No. The policy states that the cost associated with increasing the diversity of a study population composition to include women, minorities, and minority subpopulations is not an acceptable justification for excluding them. (See Section I., II., III.A., and III.B. in the NIH Guidelines) • Question: What is the definition of minority groups and minority subpopulations? Answer: There are four minority racial groups: American Indian/Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; and Black. Individuals of Hispanic origin are an ethnic minority and may be of any race. Caucasians, not of Hispanic origin, are considered the majority group for the purpose of this policy. Each minority group contains subpopulations that may be defined by geographic origin, national origin, cultural differences, or mixed racial and/or ethnic parentage. The minority group or subpopulation to which an individual belongs is determined by self-reporting. ( See Section V.E.1. through V.E.3. in the NIH Guidel
