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Equity and Equality in Diagnostics Award

College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation

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.

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

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct pathology relevance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the fundamental predictor of fit.

Strong projects should involve areas such as:

Anatomic pathology
Clinical pathology
Surgical pathology
Cytopathology
Hematopathology
Molecular pathology
Immunohistochemistry
Laboratory medicine
Diagnostic biomarkers
Digital pathology
Laboratory diagnostics
Cancer pathology
Precision medicine

A general clinical study with no meaningful pathology component would have weaker alignment.

2. Important diagnostic or clinical problem ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A competitive proposal should identify a problem where pathology can make a meaningful difference.

Examples:

Diagnostic uncertainty
Misclassification of disease
Delayed diagnosis
Limited sensitivity/specificity of current tests
Difficulty distinguishing benign vs malignant lesions
Biomarker limitations
Reproducibility problems
Laboratory quality problems
Challenges in molecular diagnosis

The proposal should clearly establish:

Clinical problem → pathology knowledge gap → proposed solution → patient benefit.

3. Patient-care impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The strongest projects demonstrate a pathway from laboratory findings to improved patient care.

Potential benefits include:

Earlier diagnosis
More accurate diagnosis
Better disease classification
Improved prognosis
More appropriate treatment selection
Reduced diagnostic errors
Faster turnaround time
Better laboratory quality
Improved precision medicine

For example:

New biomarker → improved tumor classification → better treatment selection → improved patient outcome

is a strong translational pathway.

4. Scientific merit and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The project should generate new knowledge, rather than simply reproduce established findings.

Potentially strong areas include:

Novel biomarkers
Molecular pathology
Digital pathology
Artificial intelligence
Computational pathology
New diagnostic assays
Precision oncology
Integrated pathology/genomic approaches
Novel disease-classification methods

Innovation is strongest when it addresses an established diagnostic limitation.

5. Methodological rigor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A competitive pathology research proposal should clearly describe:

Study population
Specimen selection
Sample size
Controls/comparators
Pathology methods
Laboratory protocols
Biomarker validation
Statistical analysis
Quality-control procedures
Primary and secondary endpoints

For diagnostic studies, reviewers should be able to determine whether the proposed study can actually establish diagnostic validity and clinical utility.

6. Translational/clinical applicability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Projects that can move from laboratory research into clinical practice are particularly attractive.

A strong pathway is:

Discovery → analytical validation → clinical validation → implementation → improved diagnosis

For example:

Novel molecular marker → validation in patient tissue → improved diagnostic classification → clinical implementation

Projects that remain purely theoretical may have less immediate clinical impact.

7. Investigator qualifications ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The investigator should demonstrate appropriate expertise in:

Pathology
Laboratory medicine
Molecular biology
Clinical research
Biostatistics
Bioinformatics
Digital pathology, where applicable

For early-career investigators, strong mentorship and access to experienced pathology researchers can compensate for a limited independent research track record.

8. Feasibility and pathology resources ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The application should establish access to:

Pathology specimens
Tissue archives
Histology facilities
Molecular laboratories
Immunohistochemistry
Digital pathology scanners
Sequencing facilities
Clinical databases
Statistical/bioinformatics support

A technically ambitious proposal is less competitive if the necessary specimens, equipment, or expertise are not already available.

9. Advancement of pathology practice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A strong proposal should answer:

How could this research change what pathologists or laboratories do?

Potential effects include:

Improved diagnostic algorithms
Standardized testing
Better biomarker interpretation
Improved laboratory workflow
Reduced diagnostic variability
Improved quality assurance
New testing approaches
More efficient pathology reporting

This practical connection can substantially strengthen the proposal.

10. Appropriate budget and focused objectives ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The proposed work should be achievable within the available resources.

A strong small-grant proposal typically has:

1 clear central question
2–3 focused objectives
Realistic sample size
Existing laboratory infrastructure
Clearly justified costs
Achievable timeline

Avoid trying to conduct a full-scale clinical trial with a small research award.

Specialties

Pathology

Eligibility Requirements

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.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 325 Waukegan Road, Northfield, IL 60093-2719

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