Yet, studies show Black Americans continue to distrust medical research and clinical trials, apparently a lasting legacy of the infamous Tuskegee experiment which was shut down more than three decades ago.

Ironically, such attitudes are keeping minorities from participating in current clinical trials that could save their lives, the researchers added.

“We found that minorities are 200 percent more likely to perceive harm coming from participating in research,” said senior study author Dr. Neil Powe, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

While previous studies had shown that black Americans and other minorities are less likely to be enrolled in clinical trials, this study helps explain why.

“This study provides direct evidence that distrust of researchers explains the lower participation of blacks in cardiovascular prevention trials research.