The FIC will play a unique role in addressing health disparities that exist within and among population groups in the United States. Certain populations abroad share similarities with U.S. groups by virtue of their genetic makeup, health practices, lifestyles or other features and, for this reason, advances made through international research studies stand to benefit both U.S. and foreign populations. Such research could lead to effective and culturally relevant education or counseling strategies; development of novel diagnostics, drugs or other intervention technologies; or could contribute to identification of new avenues of research that would ultimately lead to health care interventions. FIC’s programs to support collaborative research and capacity building in low- and middle-income nations are critical to advancing global health research priorities. In addition, through its training programs, FIC is developing the next generation of scientists and health professionals, including those from U.S. minority groups, to address health disparities that exist within the U.S. and within the global community. The current plan elaborates on how further strengthening FIC programs could address U.S. health disparities, and it describes several new activities toward this end.http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov/strategicmock/our_programs/strategic/pubs/FICNarrative.pdf