Is serious research possible in the Caribbean?

This essay describes the rich tradition of research in the English-speaking Caribbean and the possibilities for meaningful collaboration between Caribbean researchers and scientists from developed countries. Significant contributions include work related to the human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), Jamaican vomiting sickness, veno-occlusive disease of the liver, J-type diabetes, and the role of skin sepsis and streptococcal infection in the etiology of glomerulonephritis. In the fields of malnutrition, human metabolism, child development, and sickle cell anemia, the Caribbean has been at the forefront of medical research internationally. Many characteristics of the Caribbean population, including the disease profile, offer advantages and unique opportunities for significant research, despite difficulties related to the "brain drain" and weaknesses of the infrastructure.