The National Institute on Aging's Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research: Development, Evolution, and Impact.

Abstract

Spanning nearly 30 of the 50 years in which the National Institute on Aging (NIA) has existed, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) program represents one of the most successful initiatives for advancing minority aging research and diversifying the scientific workforce within the Institute and across the National Institutes of Health. This article celebrates the genesis of the RCMAR program, beginning with the need to enhance this work, ranging from theories underlying the then-nascent field of health disparities research to study design, measurement, and analytic procedures. It describes the companion focus on preparing, expanding, and diversifying generations of future scholars/scientists to carry forward these advances. RCMAR's emphasis on promoting a comprehensive approach to research career development and building supportive learning communities heralded a more holistic approach to training than was previously the case. The discussion describes the evolution of the structure and emphases of the RCMAR program as it has responded to the frequently changing political, funding, and research environments. The article concludes by highlighting the major successes of this initiative, the challenges it faces, and opportunities afforded future growth as individual centers, the program at large, and NIA as a whole continue to innovate as they collectively address the original goals which remain relevant today and in the near future.