Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI) to Build Capacity in Black and Hispanic Communities and Among Black and Hispanic Researchers to Conduct HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic and Prevention Research

The MARI program was established in 2003 to build capacity for HIV epidemiologic and prevention research in mostly Black and Hispanic communities and among Black and Hispanic investigators working in highly affected communities. The MARI program supports the CDC's overarching goal to promote health and reduce disease and disability by funding research that has the potential to reduce burden and to result in high public health impact.The goals of the MARI program are:1. To build HIV prevention research capacity in minority communities in which little research has been conducted by partnering with and developing new investigators in these communities to address pertinent research questions, 2. To engage in career development and provide research opportunities for new investigators from mostly Black and Hispanic communities through collaboration with the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at CDC. This will be achieved by encouraging these scientists to develop independent research skills needed to gain experience in HIV epidemiologic and prevention research, to present the results of their research at national conferences and to publish their results in peer-reviewed journals, and3. To develop and conduct HIV epidemiologic prevention research, in the form of limited case-controlled, cross-sectional or qualitative projects that have public health relevance to communities highly affected by the HIV epidemic.