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Byiringiro S, Garcia JK, Farrell N, Ogungbe B, Barsha RAA, Miller HN, Whitaker E, Wang P, Rosa WE, Bierer BE, Himmelfarb CR, Michos ED, De Lombaert K, Berdichesky M, Busque S, Palaniappan L, Lewis E, Rodriguez F, Valantine H. Advocating for collaboration among key partners to promote diversity in clinical studies amid policy challenges in the United States of America. Trials 2025; 26:117. [PMID: 40176184 PMCID: PMC11963400 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-025-08820-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2025] [Accepted: 03/19/2025] [Indexed: 04/04/2025] Open
Abstract
The lack of diversity in clinical studies has significant ethical and health consequences, limiting the development of effective treatments for diverse populations. Homogeneous participation in clinical studies contributes to health disparities, particularly among historically underrepresented groups in the United States (US). Racial, ethnic, and other minoritized populations have long been excluded from clinical research. In response, the US Congress mandated the National Institutes of Health to assess the impacts of insufficient diversity in clinical studies. Despite efforts by the government, non-profit organizations, and industry players to improve diversity in clinical studies, progress has been slow due to fragmented approaches. For instance, the new US administration (2025) has recently released executive orders which threaten to reverse the progress made in inclusive clinical research. The Stanford Think Tank on Diversity and Equity in Clinical Trials, held in September 2023, brought together key partners across multiple sectors and professions to discuss barriers and explore potential solutions to participation in clinical studies. In this commentary, we discuss the importance of collaborative, inclusive strategies in clinical study design to advance equitable health outcomes for all. Further, we discuss potential implications of the government's dismissal of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on diverse research participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Byiringiro
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Juliana K Garcia
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, USA
| | | | - Bunmi Ogungbe
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Hailey N Miller
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Evans Whitaker
- Lane Medical Library, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA
| | - Paul Wang
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - William E Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Barbara E Bierer
- Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women'S Hospital and Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cheryl R Himmelfarb
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Erin D Michos
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Eldrin Lewis
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
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Mohamed GA, Lench DH, Grewal P, Rosenberg M, Voeks J. Stem cell therapy: a new hope for stroke and traumatic brain injury recovery and the challenge for rural minorities in South Carolina. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1419867. [PMID: 39184380 PMCID: PMC11342809 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1419867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are a significant cause of death and disability nationwide. Both are considered public health concerns in rural communities in the state of South Carolina (SC), particularly affecting the African American population resulting in considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Stem cell therapy (SCT) has emerged as a potential intervention for both diseases with increasing research trials showing promising results. In this perspective article, the authors aim to discuss the current research in the field of SCT, the results of early phase trials, and the utilization of outcome measures and biomarkers of recovery. We searched PubMed from inception to December 2023 for articles on stem cell therapy in stroke and traumatic brain injury and its impact on rural communities, particularly in SC. Early phase trials of SCT in Stroke and Traumatic Brain injury yield promising safety profile and efficacy results, but the findings have not yet been consistently replicated. Early trials using mesenchymal stem cells for stroke survivors showed safety, feasibility, and improved functional outcomes using broad and domain-specific outcome measures. Neuroimaging markers of recovery such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) combined with neuromodulation, although not widely used in SCT research, could represent a breakthrough when evaluating brain injury and its functional consequences. This article highlights the role of SCT as a promising intervention while addressing the underlying social determinants of health that affect therapeutic outcomes in relation to rural communities such as SC. It also addresses the challenges ethical concerns of stem cell sourcing, the high cost of autologous cell therapies, and the technical difficulties in ensuring transplanted cell survival and strategies to overcome barriers to clinical trial enrollment such as the ethical concerns of stem cell sourcing, the high cost of autologous cell therapies, and the technical difficulties in ensuring transplanted cell survival and equitable healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada A. Mohamed
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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Anastasi JK, Capili B, Norton M, McMahon DJ, Marder K. Recruitment and retention of clinical trial participants: understanding motivations of patients with chronic pain and other populations. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 4:1330937. [PMID: 38606348 PMCID: PMC11006977 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1330937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper aims to present and discuss the issues, challenges, and strategies related to recruitment and retention in clinical trials involving participants with chronic pain. The randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) is widely regarded as the gold standard for evaluating clinical interventions. However, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the challenges associated with recruiting and retaining participants. To prioritize the experience of the study population, targeted outreach strategies and a patient-centric approach are necessary. Researchers should consider incorporating recruitment and retention strategies during the study design phase. Implementing multi-pronged recruitment methods, leveraging relationships with community providers, and involving representatives of the patient population are helpful approaches. Effective communication and maintaining a professional environment are vital for optimizing engagement and supporting the successful execution of clinical trials involving participants with chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce K. Anastasi
- Division of Special Studies in Symptom Management, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Bernadette Capili
- Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Margaret Norton
- Division of Special Studies in Symptom Management, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Nursing, St. Joseph's University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Donald J. McMahon
- Division of Special Studies in Symptom Management, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Karen Marder
- Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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Heidebrink JL, Paulson HL. Lessons Learned from Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer's Disease. Annu Rev Med 2024; 75:99-111. [PMID: 38285515 PMCID: PMC10926277 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-051022-043645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
When the US Food and Drug Administration used the accelerated approval process to authorize the use of the antiamyloid drug aducanumab to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD), many people hoped this signaled a new era of disease-modifying treatment. But 2 years later, aducanumab's failure to launch provides a cautionary tale about the complexities of dementia and the need for a thorough and transparent review of the role that regulatory agencies and various stakeholders play in approving AD drugs. We highlight the events leading to aducanumab's controversial approval and discuss some of the key lessons learned from the drug's failure to deliver the hoped-for benefits. These lessons include the inherent limitations of antiamyloid strategies for a complex disease in which amyloid is only one of several pathological processes, the need for clinical trials that better reflect the diversity of communities affected by AD, the potential pitfalls of futility analyses in clinical trials, the need for greater transparency and other modifications to the approval process, and the dementia field's unreadiness to move from the highly controlled environment of clinical trials to the widespread and chronic use of resource-intensive, disease-modifying drugs in real-world treatment scenarios. People with dementia desperately need effective therapies. We hope that the aducanumab story will inspire changes to the approval process-changes that restore public trust and improve future efforts to deliver disease-modifying therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith L Heidebrink
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; ,
- Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; ,
- Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Kiyange F, Atieno M, Luyirika EBK, Ali Z, Musau H, Thambo L, Rhee JY, Namisango E, Rosa WE. Measuring palliative care integration in Malawi through service provision, access, and training indicators: the Waterloo Coalition Initiative. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:17. [PMID: 38229044 PMCID: PMC10790398 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01331-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fewer than 1 in 20 people on the African continent in need of palliative care receive it. Malawi is a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa that has yet to achieve advanced palliative care integration accompanied by unrestricted access to pain and symptom relieving palliative medicines. This paper studied the impact of Malawi's Waterloo Coalition Initiative (WCI) - a local project promoting palliative care integration through service development, staff training, and increased service access. METHODS Interdisciplinary health professionals at 13 hospitals in southern Malawi were provided robust palliative care training over a 10-month period. We used a cross-sectional evaluation to measure palliative care integration based on 11 consensus-based indicators over a one-year period. RESULTS 92% of hospitals made significant progress in all 11 indicators. Specifically, there was a 69% increase in the number of dedicated palliative care rooms/clinics, a total of 253 staff trained across all hospitals (a 220% increase in the region), substantive increases in the number of patients receiving or assessed for palliative care, and the number of hospitals that maintained access to morphine or other opioid analgesics while increasing the proportion of referrals to hospice or other palliative care programs. CONCLUSION Palliative care is a component of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3. The WCI has made tremendous strides in establishing and integrating palliative care services in Malawi with notable progress across 11 project indicators, demonstrating that increased palliative care access is possible in severely resource-constrained settings through sustained models of partnership at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatia Kiyange
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Zipporah Ali
- Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Helena Musau
- Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lameck Thambo
- Palliative Care Association of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - John Y Rhee
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - William E Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 633 Third Avenue, 4th Fl, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Rosa WE, McDarby M, Buller H, Ferrell BR. Palliative Care Clinician Perspectives on Person-Centered End-of-Life Communication for Racially and Culturally Minoritized Persons with Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4076. [PMID: 37627105 PMCID: PMC10452546 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine interdisciplinary clinicians' perceptions of priorities in serious illness communication and shared decision-making with racially and culturally minoritized persons at end of life. Clinicians (N = 152) read a detailed case study about a patient self-identifying as Black and American Indian who describes mistrust of the healthcare system. Participants then responded to three open-ended questions about communication strategies and approaches they would employ in providing care. We conducted a thematic analysis of participants' responses to questions using an iterative, inductive approach. Interdisciplinary clinicians from nursing (48%), social work (36%), and chaplaincy (16%), responded to the study survey. A total of four themes emerged: (1) person-centered, authentic, and culturally-sensitive care; (2) pain control; (3) approaches to build trust and connection; and (4) understanding communication challenges related to racial differences. Significant efforts have been made to train clinicians in culturally inclusive communication, yet we know little about how clinicians approach "real world" scenarios during which patients from structurally minoritized groups describe care concerns. We outline implications for identifying unconscious bias, informing educational interventions to support culturally inclusive communication, and improving the quality of end-of-life care for patients with cancer from minoritized groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E. Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10017, USA;
| | - Meghan McDarby
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10017, USA;
| | - Haley Buller
- City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (H.B.); (B.R.F.)
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