Navigating DEIA in Research Teams:

A Guiding Roadmap of Resources to Support Collaboration

 

 

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Research is a collaborative endeavor. To address today’s complex biomedical, social-behavioral, and societal challenges, researchers increasingly draw upon the strengths and expertise of diverse teams. Navigating the landscape of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) offers both challenges and rewarding opportunities for scientific and translational innovations.

The Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) are excited to announce the launch of Navigating DEIA Research Together: A Guiding Roadmap for Teams. This collaborative project offers a curated compilation of DEIA resources spanning health, natural and physical sciences, business, and technology sectors.

Visual depiction of the DEIA research roadmap.

We encourage all research teams to engage with the insights provided within this roadmap and tailor them to their unique needs. By embarking on this journey together and integrating DEIA principles throughout the research lifecycle, diverse teams can achieve scientific and translational outcomes that may be out of reach for more homogenous groups or single investigators.

Recognizing that expertise in DEIA cannot be developed overnight, we emphasize the importance of time, intentionality, care, and commitment. Each step of this roadmap, while addressed individually, is interconnected and builds upon the previous one, guiding teams as they navigate their path.

As a dynamic and evolving document, this roadmap will adapt to new literature, best practices, and emerging evidence. We invite users to share their experiences, including successes and challenges, as well as ideas for future iterations to continually refine and enhance the roadmap.

Research Teams and DEIA

The roadmap is a guiding document designed to help research teams integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles throughout the research lifecycle—from conception to dissemination and beyond. It underscores the importance of diverse, inclusive teams in addressing complex biomedical and social behavioral questions but acknowledges that effective collaboration can be challenging. To facilitate this, the roadmap offers a curated list of DEIA resources across various industries, providing a starting point for teams to develop their unique approaches. This dynamic, living document is intended to support continual learning and growth, encouraging teams to be intentional, careful, and committed as they navigate and enhance their research processes with DEIA principles. Feedback is welcomed to ensure the roadmap evolves with new literature, best practices, and user experiences.

Quote graphic from Trachette Jackson, OVPR's associate vice president for DEI. "Research is a team sport that flourishes through the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Diverse teams are uniquely poised to address society's most complex challenges, yet seamless collaboration demands intentional effort, dedication, and a sustained commitment to DEIA values. Our roadmap is crafted to navigate research teams through this vital journey, acknowledging that true success requires ongoing learning, adaptability, and collective growth. By infusing DEIA throughout every phase of the research process, we can elevate scientific discovery and societal progress to unprecedented heights."

Contact Us

For inquiries or feedback, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We look forward to your contributions and to advancing this significant initiative together.