By National Academies: Sciences Engineering Medicine

"Rethinking Race and Ethnicity in Biomedical Research" by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, published in 2024, addresses the complex and often controversial use of racial and ethnic categories in biomedical research. The book provides a comprehensive assessment of how these categories are currently used and offers nine actionable recommendations to guide researchers in their future work. :

Evaluating the Use of Race and Ethnicity: The book emphasizes the importance of carefully considering whether and how to use race and ethnicity in research, taking into account historical and social contexts, scientific rationale, and potential implications.

Characterizing Limitations: It advises researchers to clearly disclose the limitations of datasets that include racial and ethnic information.

Identifying Relevant Factors: Researchers are encouraged to identify and investigate factors that may be more relevant than race and ethnicity, such as environmental, economic, and social determinants of health.

Community Engagement: The book highlights the need for sustained and meaningful engagement with communities, particularly those that are often overlooked in research.Overall, the book aims to promote a more thoughtful and responsible use of race and ethnicity in biomedical research, ultimately contributing to the reduction of health disparities and the advancement of health equity.

National Academies: Sciences, 2024, 251 pages