Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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The terms “clinical research” and “clinical trials” have become household terms today more than ever, since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. We are thankful to the community for elevating the conversation. The clinical trials industry continues to raise awareness among the general population, especially amid the pandemic. However, it has also increased the awareness on health disparities and the need for better representation from our BIPOC communities, which are underrepresented.
There is still a high level of mistrust among minority communities and underrepresentation in clinical trials. This lack of representation results in inequities in our health care system and the effectiveness of new treatments. The public and patient communities have been receiving a substantial amount of information about how government agencies, private companies and others are responding to COVID-19 and its variants. However, there has been limited reliable information about why clinical trials are a critical part of the process to develop new treatments and why diverse participation in clinical trials is so important.
In general, clinical trials are designed to increase medical knowledge about the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of diseases or conditions. We need diverse populations to participate in clinical trials so we can understand how to approach the following:
• Evaluating one or more interventions for treating a disease, syndrome or condition
• Finding ways to prevent the initial development of a disease or condition, or its recurrence
• Evaluating one or more interventions aimed at identifying or diagnosing a particular disease or condition
• Examining methods for identifying a condition or risk factors for that condition
• Exploring and measuring ways to improve the comfort and quality of life for people with a chronic illness through supportive care.
We know that the industry needs to overcome and address other barriers, including fear, lack of information about clinical trials, and logistical challenges. Advocacy groups, research sites and biopharmaceutical industry stakeholders, along with the Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research (CISCRP), are working tirelessly to address many questions and concerns from participants, caregivers and the public about the clinical research process.
CISCRP is partnering with organizations across the Southwest to help educate and engage more participants — including Dreamsickle Kids Foundation and many more.
Organizations like these need your help and need you to spread the word about the importance of clinical trials. Their mission is to inform, rebuild the trust and build stronger communication among all communities and diverse populations. We need to dispel myths around clinical trials and educate people with facts about the importance of advancing medicine.
To accomplish this, there is a need to inform communities about clinical trials, address the many questions and myths and provide reliable, trustworthy information. The big question remains: How can the clinical trials industry and biopharmaceutical organizations overcome these barriers and engage with the public and diverse communities?
We need our communities aligned and involved to launch community engagement efforts from patients to caregivers, patient advocates, and researchers to be the “local representative voice” for everyone to advance medicine and the future of health care.
CISCRP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and informing the public, patients, medical/research communities, media, and policymakers about clinical research and the role each participant plays in the process. It is committed to building awareness, communication and trust around the world.
To help fill these knowledge gaps and address a critical need for neutral, credible education, CISCRP is inviting the public to attend a free webinar from 5-6 p.m. Oct. 21. The program features a live panel discussion with participants and health care professionals openly sharing their experiences with clinical trials and answering questions from attendees — having their representative voices heard.
To view more details on the AWARE for All Southwest event and to register, visit ciscrp.org/event/aware-for-all-southwest-virtual-event.
Joan Chambers is senior director of marketing and outreach for CISCRP. Gina Glass is executive director of the Dreamsickle Kids Foundation, SCDAA Nevada Chapter.
