Today, the clinical research community is dealing with a very harsh truth: the status quo is failing huge segments of the global population, and it’s time for a serious change.
It’s true that efforts have been made to improve diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, but glaring shortfalls remain, and marginalized groups continue to be underrepresented. Addressing these systemic issues and correcting health disparities means embracing a new framework for research: clinicoequity.
More than just a strategic goal or idealistic vision, clinicoequity is an ethical imperative. It promotes equity at all stages of clinical research, starting with trial design and moving on through testing and post-trial follow-ups. Weaving clinicoequity into the fabric of clinical studies means research can benefit all populations equally, including those who have historically been overlooked or otherwise ignored as modern medicine marches forward.
The Demand for Change
Shockingly, statistics show that racial and ethnic minorities make up around 39% of the United States population, but only account for 2% to 16% of clinical trial participants. This lack of diversity can result in skewed data – leading to treatments that are less effective, or even harmful, for underrepresented populations.
Consider cardiovascular disease: According to Cleveland Clinic, 47% of Black adults have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, compared with 36% of white adults. If Black individuals continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular research, treatments and preventative measures may not be as effective for them, causing healthcare gaps to widen.
Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease is just one example of many. Health disparities exist in many common ailments, including diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers.
Clinicoequity: A New Standard for Ethical Research
Clinicoequity is a challenge to the clinical research industry — a challenge to reconsider shallow diversity efforts and embrace a truly ethical framework instead. Prioritizing equal representation, accessibility, and outcomes will lead to a new research paradigm that serves each and every segment of the population fairly.
This isn’t just about improving scientific accuracy or even expanding market reach, though both are important and positive results. It’s about meeting the call and addressing a profound ethical obligation. Clinical research is the cornerstone of modern medicine, and it has the power to address these inequities right now. Today.
Health disparities are not an anomaly; they result from inequities in our methods of testing and treatment development, and they lead to preventable suffering and even death. If clinical trials aren’t seeking to advance human health and alleviate suffering universally, it is falling short of its promise.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the status quo is no longer sufficient. We live in a world where disparities in many areas of life are growing, but through clinicoequity, we see a path to a more effective and just healthcare system for all.
Shifting the Paradigm
Achieving the goal of clinicoequity demands we push past mere lip service and shallow commitments to diversity. We must embrace a data-driven, patient-centered approach that accounts for the complex relationships between genetic, social, and environmental factors, and understand that many are left behind in a one-size-fits-all model.
A few solutions to “shift the paradigm” and build a more equitable healthcare system include:
1. Precision medicine:
Precision medicine is fundamental to the future of healthcare. Incorporating diverse genetic, epigenetic, and environmental data into study frameworks will allow researchers to identify treatments tailored to specific patient populations and subgroups.
2. Robust real-world evidence (RWE):
Leveraging robust RWE datasets and predictive modeling allows researchers to track subgroup progress and analyze unique outcomes effectively.
3. Adaptive trial designs:
Adaptive trial designs allow for flexibility in data collection, giving participants the opportunity to have their trial data collected when and where it’s convenient. Adjustments can be made as needed and participants benefit from a less rigid framework.
4. AI-Powered data analytics:
Combining AI with longitudinal patient data and biomarkers provides a clearer picture of outcomes from specific interventions, leading to more accurate results for even the smallest subgroups.
5. Indefinite data retention and learning:
Storing resulting data on advanced platforms that allow continuous aggregation and analysis supports ongoing learning, ultimately ensuring a comprehensive, evolving approach to individualized care.
The Future of Healthcare
We see clinicoequity as the one true future of clinical research. Representing a colossal shift from token inclusion to real consideration and equity, it will move us toward health improvements for all. As industry leaders, we see these improvements as not only possible, but vital. By considering equity at every step of the clinical research process, our healthcare systems will begin to serve all populations equally.