The Office of Diversity in Clinical Research (ODCR) provides services in protocol design, identification of target populations, development of minority recruitment strategies, and providing assistance in the recruitment of participants to research protocols through community and nationwide contacts within communities of color. The initiation of a pilot team consisting of a lead cultural broker/ interpreter, lead study coordinator, lead principal investigator, and the Minority Outreach Specialist has been established to follow a clinical design from its inception, and includes the outreach work within community and the clinical research setting. Community meetings with elders of multiple diverse communities have been ongoing. The bridging of Winona and Olmsted Counties' minority populations has been initiated to make an impact at a grassroots level. The creation of cultural outreach tools has resulted in the distribution/use for the research teams to assist in relationship building and in the increase of participation rates of minorities in clinical research.
Narrative recommendations for grant/protocol applications addressing minority inclusion: