Racial and ethnic minorities are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.  It is the position of the National Medical Association and the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute that African American patients and physicians are inadequately represented in clinical trials. We believe this lack of representation compromises the quality and validity of clinical trial findings used to guide appropriate treatment of minority patients.  It is important that African Americans and other minorities participate in all aspect of biomedical research and clinical trials.

The Cobb Institute and NMA’s Project Increase Minority Participation and Awareness of Clinical Trials (I.M.P.A.C.T) are partnering to implement a program that supports increased involvement of minority physicians and patients in clinical research as well as the dissemination of research findings for the better care of patients.  The program will focus on relieving the impediments and sharing the best practices for the conduct and reporting of clinical research.