Nationally, the HIV epidemic in women and children has disproportionately affected the minority population (12,753 African-American and 1,125 Hispanic women). Research focusing on the effects of HIV infection on this population requires innovation and aggressive recruitment efforts as well as supportive case management for retention and adherence. A pilot study of immune development (phase I) in children born to 29 HIV infected women was initiated in 1990 at Meharry Medical College. Recruitment of minority HIV infected pregnant women was facilitated by an interdisciplinary team effort called Project SHARE (Specialized Healthcare Aimed at Research and Education). To date, 52 HIV infected women have participated in Project SHARE (77% [40] are black, 21%[11] are white and 2%[1] Hispanic). Ten non-infected women have participated as controls (80% [8] black and 20% [2] white). Among the findings from our research are: 1) 3.8% vertical transmission rate with and without maternal prophylactic AZT; 2) 13.5% repeat pregnancy among our HIV infected mothers; 3) a major motivational characteristic was concern for the well being of infants by mothers; and 4) retention strategies were enhanced by case management of participants needs. Thus, clinical research among this population is feasible, but requires significant efforts directed at participant needs which often do not relate directly to research objectives.