Strategies for enhancing research and research training programs for African Americans: viewing barriers as opportunities.

Minorities have long been excluded from biomedical research programs, both as researchers and as study participants. One reason for the dearth of minority researchers is their lack of awareness that federal and private financial assistance programs exist on their behalf. To provide opportunities for minorities in biomedical research, minority institutions must be given expanded opportunities to participate in federally sponsored biomedical research programs. Thus both governmental and private agencies need to appraise minority research institutions of the kinds of assistance available and how to access funds. One means of disseminating such information would be to post it on the Internet. Minority institutions, for their part, must make basic research a priority and engage in mentorship programs that encourage minority precollege students to pursue careers in the sciences. Researchers can gain the trust of African Americans through outreach programs, which may lead to the greater inclusion of this population in clinical trials.