Enhancing minority participation in research. The NHLBI experience.

Abstract

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has long been committed to improving the health and well-being of minority populations and has worked aggressively to address the disparities that exist in minority health, education, and research and training opportunities. The NHLBI minority programs have had considerable visibility and remarkable effectiveness, and we would like to share what we believe are some of the elements of our formula for success. In the early 1970s, the Institute formed an Ad Hoc Committee on Minority Populations to ensure that minority communities were included in the programs and activities planned by the newly established National High Blood Pressure Education Program. The Committee has helped to focus the Institute on minority health issues. Through the years, the responsibilities of the 15-member multiethnic, multidisciplinary committee have evolved so that they now comprise (1) advising the Institute on needs and gaps in our research, training, and education programs with regard to minority interest and representation; (2) serving on various NHLBI working groups and committees to ensure minority representation and participation in these activities; and (3) planning a minority forum that is held every 5 years. One of the first projects initiated by the Committee was a study titled “Development of Diffusion Strategies Among Culturally Diverse Populations.” Completed in the late 1970s, it sought to identify effective strategies for disseminating health information …