Bridges Program - History

Recruitment of underrepresented minorities into basic biomedical research is imperative, if we are to maintain the vitality and diversity of the research community in the new millennium. Not only should research projects themselves include study subjects of all genders, ages, and ethnicities, but also the scientists who conduct this research should represent the same broad spectrum. Unfortunately, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF), the number of minorities earning doctoral degrees in science and engineering is abysmally low: 3% African Americans, 3% Latino, and 0.4% Native American. It is therefore critical that members of the academic biomedical community make a concerted effort to foster the entry of underrepresented minority members into the educational pipeline so that with proper preparation and support they will be competitive for future biomedical positions. To promote this effort, the National Institutes of Health in 1992 initiated the Bridges to the Future Program to support programs that facilitate the transition of students from associate- to baccalaureate-degree granting institutions. The program promotes effective inter-institutional partnerships to improve the quality and quantity of underrepresented minority students being trained as the next generation of scientists.