How Clinical Trial Diversity Saved a Life

How Clinical Trial Diversity Saved a Life By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH “My pastor warned me not to participate in a clinical trial,” Karen Barrios said. Going against his advice, Ms. Barrios joined a clinical trial that she believes saved her life.1 Ms. Barrios shared her story as a panelist during the webinar, “Enhancing Engagement of Communities of Color in Covid-19 Research,” held on January 11 by the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service in Boston. The purpose of this webinar series is to address challenges facing ethnic minorities in accessing healthcare and participating in [...]

Participation is Personal: Community Outreach Impacts Clinical Trial Diversity

Participation is Personal: Community Outreach Impacts Clinical Trial Diversity By Kathleen Hoffman, PhD, MSPH Despite FDA policy initiatives over the last few decades, certain groups continue to be unnecessarily underrepresented in many clinical trials.1 The Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI) at the Yale School of Medicine is tackling this problem with local resources. Since its inception in 2005, part of YCCI’s mission has been to: “...Strengthen the infrastructure that connects clinical research teams with practitioners, community health clinics, and community stakeholders throughout Connecticut, reaching out in particular to diverse populations including children, women, the elderly, [...]