141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290602
Minority HIV/AIDS research initiative (MARI): An update on progress and next steps for mentored, underrepresented scientists doing HIV prevention research

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Madeline Sutton, MD, MPH , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Leigh A. Willis, PhD, MPH , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Epidemiology Branch, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Ted Castellanos, MPH , DHAP/Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Ashley Murray, MPH, CHES, CPH , Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Issues: Racial/ethnic minority scientists are underrepresented among federally funded researchers working towards culturally specific and community-involved HIV prevention solutions. A diversified workforce for stronger culturally-based prevention approaches and reducing HIV-related health disparities is a priority. The Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI) was established at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2003 to support underrepresented minority scientists doing HIV prevention research in highly affected communities.

Description: MARI is a program of competitively awarded, mentored grants for early career researchers conducting HIV prevention research within highly affected racial/ethnic and sexual minority communities. To date, MARI has funded 27 scientists for 3-4 year time-blocks to conceptualize and fully implement their HIV prevention research studies as the principal investigators. All MARI studies occur in areas of the United States with high prevalence of HIV.

Lessons learned: MARI scientists have: 1) developed research programs in disproportionately affected communities of color, 2) produced first-authored peer-reviewed scientific and programmatic products (including papers and community-level interventions), and 3) obtained larger, subsequent federal funding awards for research and programmatic work related to HIV prevention and/or health disparities work, consistent with National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) goals.

Recommendations: MARI can serve as a model for funded, mentored programs to increase scientific workforce diversity and reduce disparities toward NHAS goals. The next round of MARI will seek to add to the growing network of funded, mentored, historically underrepresented scientists doing HIV prevention work.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI) funding program to mentor and train historically underrepresented scientists.

Keywords: Training, Minority Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in HIV/STI research and prevention for almost 20 years, including 16 years at the CDC. I have published extensively on topics related to HIV, STI and minority health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.