 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of including special and vulnerable populations in clinical and translational science research. To address this issue, the Environmental Scan, eScan, was conducted to assess the adaptive capacity and preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award, CTSA, hubs. Based on the findings and case studies, this paper proposes strategies for enhancing adaptive capacity in order to ensure equal access and participation of all populations. Despite significant progress in vaccines, diagnostics, and clinical trials, there remains a gap between the advances made in research and their availability to all populations. This article was authored by Veronica Hoyo, Raj Seesha, Gaurav Dave, and others.