Clinical Trial Diversity Begins (and Ends) with Patients First

Conversations about disparate healthcare access often address therapies approved for market, but how can we ensure equity in the clinical R&D processes that generate these therapies? “There’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to overcoming all the barriers to recruiting diverse participants in clinical trials, and there may be specific considerations for various populations you’re intending to recruit,” explains CAPT Richardae Araojo, Associate Commissioner for Minority Health, and Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. “A plan to address inclusion should be developed early on; it should not be an afterthought, and it begins and ends with the patient in mind.” CAPT Araojo will help lead the Clinical Trial Diversity session at DIA 2019.