  In a recent study by Ginther et al., the probability of receiving a U.S.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) RO1 award was related to the applicant's
race/ethnicity. The results indicate black/African-American applicants were 10%
less likely than white peers to receive an award, after controlling for
background and qualifications. It has generated a widespread debate regarding
the unfairness of the NIH grant review process and its correction. In this
paper, the work by Ginther et al. was augmented by pairing analysis,
axiomatically-individualized productivity and normalized funding success
measurement. Although there are racial differences in R01 grant success rates,
normalized figures of merit for funding success explain the discrepancy. The
suggested "leverage points for policy intervention" are in question and require
deeper and more thorough investigations. Further adjustments in policies to
remove racial disparity should be made more systematically for equal
opportunity, rather than being limited to the NIH review process.
