Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Small Business Program.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has developed a strategic approach to fostering diversity and inclusion within its community of small business innovators. The approach is focused on three central goals: 1) Increase awareness of NHLBI's support for small businesses among underrepresented groups through focused outreach; 2) Identify and eliminate barriers to entry into small business funding programs and entrepreneurial activities for minority and female applicants through specific, targeted training and support; and 3) Expand diversity and inclusivity within our networks by providing additional support for NHLBI-funded small businesses to hire members of underrepresented groups. Key partnerships with biomedical accelerators in underserved regions will be leveraged to maximize impact and achieve all three goals.