YCCI Cultural Ambassadors program seeks diversity in clinical trials

Engaging a diverse community in clinical research trials has long been a challenge for investigators: while African Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, they make up only five percent of clinical trial participants. At the same time, Latinos comprise 16 percent of the population, but only one percent of clinical trial participants. Researchers continually seek to recruit and retain members of minority groups for trials so that their results can reflect the experiences and needs of those groups, and ultimately aid in developing interventions and treatments that will benefit the specific needs of these communities. It has also been noted that developing trust within minority communities can advance the health of these populations. Seeking to address the need for increased minority participation in clinical research, YCCI created the Cultural Ambassadors program in 2011. The program is a collaborative partnership with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church and Junta for Progressive Action. The Cultural Ambassadors program educates and engages leaders of New Haven's African American and Latino populations by involving them in study design; the creation and translation of culturally sensitive recruitment materials; direct subject recruitment; and dissemination of results.