Abbott, in the third year marking its substantial Diversity in Clinical Trials campaign, has introduced ‘Advancing Diversity in Clinical Trials,’ a publication offering strategies to enhance diversity within clinical research teams throughout the United States. At the same time, Abbott has disclosed new alliances aimed at overcoming conventional obstacles to healthcare, ensuring broader diversity in clinical trials.
Featured in TIME Magazine, the document draws from insights and experiences of nearly 100 seasoned professionals including academic researchers, medical practitioners, advocacy groups, clinical trialists, and Abbott’s internal experts. The publication highlights and provides clarity on four primary barriers hindering clinical trial access: lack of trust, lack of transparency, limited access, and an absence of a shared language. The document suggests various important recommendations to counter these hurdles, such as:
– Encouraging inclusive hiring and study design methods that allow patients to see themselves in the trial teams.
– Launching educational initiatives that simplify and clarify trial terminologies and data to promote better comprehension of clinical trials, disease conditions, and the need for new therapies.
– Designing study frameworks that enable remote logging of data devices to reduce physical visits.
– Offering multilingual documents and translation services to engage prospective patients comprehensively.
Danielle Bajakian, M.D., from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, underscored the significance of diversity in clinical trials, citing the publication as an insightful resource for boosting varied demographic representation. Ensuring patient confidence in diverse trial engagement remains a priority.
Abbott has broadened its Diversity in Clinical Trials agenda, forging fresh partnerships across the medical landscape to tackle participation challenges. It has debuted www.abbottclinicaltrials.com, offering resources and educational material on clinical trials, developed in collaboration with the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), to enhance awareness and optimize stakeholder engagement.
Additionally, a pioneering pilot program incorporated participant feedback during the clinical trial design phase. Collaborating with the National Blood Clot Alliance, Abbott is initiating a novel, diverse Patient Advisory Panel to refine study logistics and enhance experience among ethnically diverse populations.
Jennifer Jones-McMeans, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of inclusive research in healthcare, stressing that Dixon achieves a roadmap for creating a more inclusive healthcare ecosystem.
In anticipation of the FDA’s 2025 requirement for diversity and inclusion plans with all Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) applications, Abbott has proactively devised the necessary framework and embedded it within its own application processes.
Abbott’s internal resources have expanded to include a diversity-focused data collection framework across various parameters to pinpoint effective solutions for community-centric challenges.
This approach contributes to a comprehensive organizational database, consistently measuring diversity across Abbott’s clinical trials globally. The initiative supports not only the high standards Abbott sets but also provides data-driven insights to refine approaches if necessary.
Now in its third year, Abbott’s Diversity in Clinical Trials initiative has swelled care access for underrepresented groups. In 2023, females represented 54%, and Hispanic/non-white individuals accounted for 44% of clinical trial participants, closely reflecting US Census data. Abbott’s commitment continues through strategic initiatives, scholarships, and partnerships aimed at increasing diverse participation in future clinical trials, thus advancing medical innovation.