First-of-its-kind initiative seeks to build trust and address systemic barriers to participation in the development of innovative medicines
Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EBMD)
Yale School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Morehouse and Vanderbilt schools of medicine and the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Coordination Center program of the National Institutes of Health located at Morehouse, is participating in an initiative aimed at increasing diversity in clinical trials, with grant funding from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
The COVID-19 pandemic made it clearer than ever that disparities exist between the care and attention that most Americans get and those experienced by underserved and underrepresented communities. Diverse clinical trials are an important way to ensure that all communities receive equitable access to participate in the development of potential new treatments.
This is a pilot program that allows the participating institutions to partner with patients, providers, industry leaders, technical experts, and the community at large to bring clinical trials directly to underrepresented and underserved patients. Over the next 18 months, the participating institutions will work to build and support a network of 10 initial community-based sites.
Clinical trial diversity is an issue of fairness. People who may want to participate in a clinical trial should have information about how to do so and be able to access the trial more easily. Right now, many people, particularly from communities of color and rural communities, may not be asked to participate or may not have easy access, effectively depriving them of the choice.
Barriers to participation can include:
- Limited access to trial sites in historically underrepresented communities.
- Limited diversity among investigators and staff who serve as community leaders for clinical trials.
- The financial and time burden trials can place on patients, especially when there isn’t a site located close to where you live.
- Patient mistrust grounded in experiences with medical bias and historic wrongs.
What makes this collaboration different is it brings together pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions, subject matter experts, providers, and community leaders. Ideally it means that as sites are established, they will have a ready-stream of potential studies from the pharmaceutical industry and beyond to support the sites. What also makes this initiative different is the intentional focus on mentorship and training opportunities for diverse investigators and staff.
Yale School of Medicine is proud to participate, and anticipates great benefits for underserved communities, for medical science, and for society at large.
PhRMA's Equity Initiative
Enhancing clinical trial diversity is a highly complex challenge that requires a community-based, multi-stakeholder approach.
Learn more about PhRMA’s efforts to address the systemic barriers that can deter underserved communities from participating in clinical trials, so that people who want to participate, can.
Program Leadership
Yale School of Medicine
Professor of Laboratory Medicine, of Biomedical Engineering, of Medicine (Hematology) and of Pediatrics; Deputy Dean for Research, (Clinical and Translational); Director, Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Laboratory Medicine; Chair, Laboratory Medicine; Chief, Laboratory Medicine
Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology; Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; Chair, Psychiatry; Chief of Psychiatry, Yale-New Haven Hospital; Director: NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism; Director, Clinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD
Associate Dean for Health Equity Research and C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine (General Medicine), of Epidemiology (Chronic Disease) and of Public Health (Social And Behavioral Sciences) & Professor of Internal Medicine (General Medicine); Associate Dean, Health Equity Research; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Founding Director, Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC), Yale School of Medicine; Director, Center for Research Engagement (CRE); Director, Center for Community Engagement and Health Equity; Deputy Director for Health Equity Research and Workforce Development, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI); Director, Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership
Deputy Director COO YCCI Dir Clinical Research YSM; Chief Operating Officer, YCCI
Robert W. Berliner Professor of Medicine (Cardiology); Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine; Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital; Physician-in-Chief, Heart and Vascular Center, Yale New Haven Health; Deputy Director, Clinical Trials Innovation, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI); Co-Chair, Clinical and Translational Research Oversight Committee; President’s contingency planning committee, Clinical Practice/Clinical Research Subcommittee
Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine) and of Emergency Medicine; Interim Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Chief Health Information Officer, Yale School of Medicine & Yale New Haven Health, Yale School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Associate Dean of Clinical Research and Director of Clinical Reaser Center at Morehouse School of Medicine
RCMI Coordination Center at Morehouse School of Medicine
Professor of Medicine and Director & Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Research Center at Morehouse School of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Chair of Department of Biomedical Informatics, Senior Vice President for Research & Innovation, and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center