Dr. Feinstein Facilitates at Georgia Core Seminar
Dr. Trevor Feinstein, Medical Oncologist with Piedmont Cancer Institute was a facilitator and contributor at the Georgia Core research seminar - The For the Benefit of ALL. This seminar was an opportunity to look at new strategies and tools to enroll more patients from under-represented populations into clinical trials.
Clinical trials are important in helping determine if new interventions are safe, work better than others, have fewer side effects than existing treatments and test new methods of screening, prevention, and diagnosis. Only about 50% of people meet the specific criteria to participate in a clinical trial. Racial and ethnic minorities only account for 2-16% of clinical trials. The FDA recommends that clinical trial sites should be in areas with higher concentrations of underrepresented racial and ethnic patients and Indigenous populations, as well as within neighborhoods where these populations receive their health care but that is not always possible.
Challenges remain in reaching under-represented populations. Barriers include lack of information about clinical trials, fear and stigma of participation, logistical issues, time constraints and understanding the value of clinical trials.
Diversity in research programs is important for several reasons. First, where we live, how we live, and our background can all affect our health. Second, many groups of people have been left out of research in the past. This means researchers know less about their health.
Discussions among clinical trial managers, cancer researchers and physicians at the event explored the value of diversity in trials and how to advance equity in cancer clinical trials through effective communication and community awareness.
Discuss with your physician if you might be a candidate for a clinical trial.
