DIA 2017 Annual Meeting

Increasing diversity in clinical trial participation has been and remains a goal of those involved in developing medicines, including pharmaceutical industry organizations, investigative sites and regulators. Several high profile campaigns have failed to move the needle, while smaller scale initiatives are showing promise. This session would mention regulatory guidance, but would focus more on the "how" of gaining clinical trial participants from diverse backgrounds, including age, gender, race/ethnicity and geography. Sessions under this topic may include initiatives based on ethnic/racial diversity, age, gender, geography and other characteristics of special populations. Beyond regulatory mandates, key elements of successful efforts include focusing on the 1:1 conversation between patients and physicians, resources related to improving access to care (financial, geographic, insurance), referral arrangements between practicing physicians and investigators, establishing broad community-based networks around research institutions. Additional aspects to cover include inclusive clinical trial design and data generation with diverse populations.