| The health concerns of minority populations have in recent years become
a focus for biomedical research funding. As examples, the death rate from
asthma among African American children under the age of fourteen is more
than twice that of white children. Hispanic Americans have three times
the risk of developing diabetes as non-Hispanic white Americans. Although
minority groups together make up around 24% of the U.S. population, these
groups account for 45% of Americans with AIDS.
Fundamental scientific questions are prompted by statistics such as
these. Socioeconomic, biological, behavioral, and health service factors
are often interwoven to produce such pictures. Intensive, systematic inquiry
will be required to find out why these situations exist and how to remedy
them.
Along with the urgent need to carry out minority health research, we
have in this country a dismal record of training and supporting minority
researchers. In 1992, of the nearly 5,000 doctorates awarded in biological
sciences, only 2.1 percent went to Hispanic Americans, 1.3 percent to African
Americans, and 0.27% to Native Americans. Of the health provider
work force, only 3.7% of the nation's physicians are African American,
and only 5.5% are Hispanic.
OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON MINORITY HEALTH
In 1993 Congress authorized the establishment of the Office of Research
on Minority Health (ORMH) to strengthen minority health research and minority
research training efforts. The ORMH maintains collaborations across the
whole range of NIH Institutes, Centers and Divisions to develop programs
to further this goal. A Minority Health Initiative was launched which has
funded community-based perinatal studies and interventions in minority
populations; studies of injury-related morbidity, lead poisoning, asthma,
learning disorders, hearing and speech impairment in minority children;
studies of and interventions for minority youth high risk behavior;
studies of health behaviors of young minority adults; and research into
the health problems of older minority adults.
Many of the RFA's and PA's which are published in the CCBHS
Grants Newsletter have been developed as a result of this initiative.
This movement represents a notable opportunity for researchers within the
Cook County health system. County providers have long dealt with the health
concerns of minority patients and have gained expertise which can be readily
applied to research. In particular, the insight that grows from hands-on
experience is invaluable in framing scientific questions appropriately,
so that the information gained is genuinely useful.
In addition to new project opportunities, new supports are available
for training and supporting minority researchers. The ORMH has initiated
efforts to link minority students from masters to doctoral degree programs,
from junior colleges to four-year colleges, and from high school into college.
In addition, enrichment programs, which expose minority students to advanced
research experiences are being sponsored by ORMH.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
NIH programs offer a set of opportunities for underrepresented minority
investigators and students (See
Minority
Research Supplements). In making awards, the NIH
gives priority to projects involving Black, Hispanic, Native American,
and Pacific Islander or other ethnic or racial group members who have been
found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research nationally.
Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities
For currently-funded NIH research grants, funds are available for administrative
supplements to existing grants to support underrepresented minority scientists
and students. The aim of these supplements is to attract and encourage
minority individuals to pursue biomedical and behavioral research careers.
Among the supplemental programs available are:
Research Supplements for Minority Graduate Research
Assistants assist minority predoctoral students who wish to develop
their research capabilities in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.
Research Supplements for Minority Individuals in Postdoctoral
Training provide support for minority individuals who wish to participate
as postdoctoral researchers in ongoing research projects in preparation
for independent careers in biomedical or behavioral research.
Research Supplements for Minority Investigators
provide short- and long-term opportunities for minority staff and faculty
who wish to participate in ongoing research projects while further developing
their own independent research potential.
The Minority Travel Award Program of the National Institute of Arthritis
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and the National Institute on Diabetes,
Digestive and Kidney Diseases provides travel funds for minority students
and faculty members from minority institutions for attendance at national
scientific meetings.
The Minority Satellite Supplement supports minority clinical
faculty to contribute to the research effort of the National Cancer Institute
clinical trials research groups.
The Minority High School Student Research Apprentice Program (MHSSRAP)
provides minority high school students with an opportunity for meaningful
experience in various aspects of health-related research in order to stimulate
their interest in careers in science.
See Also:
Minority Health, Office
of (DHHS)
Minority Health,
Office of (HRSA)
Minority Health,
Associate Director for (CDC)
Minority
Health Data Resources
Minority
Health Resource Center
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