Xavier receiving $19.6 million NIH biomed grant

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ Xavier University of Louisiana has received a $19.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The money from an NIH initiative called Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity will be used to expand biomedical programs at the historically black university.

Xavier announced the grant in a Wednesday news release. It says the award is part of a $240 million NIH investment involving more than 10 institutions to develop new approaches to engage student researchers, including those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Xavier and other grant recipients will establish a national consortium to train, mentor and encourage students from underrepresented groups to enter research careers.