Diversity Resources

Over the past few decades, the FDA has promoted enrollment practices that would lead to clinical trials that better reflect the population most likely to use the drug if the drug is approved, primarily through broadening eligibility criteria. Despite these efforts, challenges to participation in clinical trials remain, and certain groups continue to be underrepresented in many clinical trials. While the FDA has offered guidance on diversity and inclusion, there are many other resources available. We’ve collected some of these resources below.


AAFP’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity offers education and resources to help advocate for health equity, promote workforce diversity, and collaborate with other disciplines and organizations to reduce harmful health disparities.   The EveryONE Project is their leading program created to address the social determinants of health to advance health equity in all communities. Find more information HERE.


The African American Wellness Project (AAWP) was organized to respond to the inequities in health care delivery that exists between African Americans and the rest of America. It is our belief that while good health begins with diet and exercise, once you enter the health care system, you must be organized to get the most out of it. The mission of the AAWP is to direct resources (dollars, services, information etc.) towards empowering the African American Community to improve health outcomes and promote wellness.  Visit their website HERE.


It is the mission of the Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health within the Asian community.  AMHC aspires to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide. Through projects such as their Facebook group, resource library, video web-series, and meetup groups, AMHC hopes to not only provide mental health support, but also facilitate the difficult conversations we need to have to move forward together. Visit their website HERE.


Black Men In White Coats seeks to increase the number of black men in the field of medicine by exposure, inspiration, and mentoring. To accomplish this, we are partnering with various medical schools across the country to produce outstanding short documentary videos which bring awareness to this issue that not only affects the black male population, but also the nation as a whole. More information is available HERE.


Black Women In Clinical Research (BWICR) is a network of black women who are interested in a career in clinical research or currently working in the industry. We come together to educate, empower, support, and help black women thrive in the clinical research industry. Find information HERE.


Black Men In Clinical Research is a private Facebook group with a mission is to educate, empower, support, and help black men thrive in the clinical research industry.  Join the Facebook group HERE.


The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

IHS and NIH have partnered to operate the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program. The NARCH program, in operation since 2000, supports partnerships between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes or Tribally-based organizations and institutions that conduct intensive biomedical, behavioral, or health services research. The NARCH program promotes opportunities for conducting academic-level research, providing research training and development for students, faculty members, and Tribal members to meet the health research needs of communities. The NARCH also supports the development of research capacity with the long term goal of reducing health disparities in AI/AN communities.

Learn more by visiting the National Institute of General Medical Sciences NARCH website.


Latinos in Clinical Research was created with the sole purpose of increasing Latino participation within the clinical research industry. This includes both employment in the field as well as increasing participation in clinical trials and reducing disparities overall.   More information is available HERE.


The National Medical Association (NMA) is the collective voice of African American physicians and the leading force for parity and justice in medicine and the elimination of disparities in health. 

NMA is the largest and oldest national organization representing the interests of more than 50,000 African American physicians and their patients in the United States. NMA is committed to improving the quality of health among minorities and disadvantaged people through its membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, research and partnerships with federal and private agencies. Find further information at www.nmanet.org.  


The Confess Project is the first and largest organization committed to building a culture of mental health for young men of color, boys and their families. We encourage cultural dialogue of African American males and speaking about emotional health. Our projects serve as the bridge for mental health disparities with marginalized males that will come in contact with/or seek treatment of any emotional related social issues.  We empower frontline heroes in communities across America. More specifically, we train barbers to be mental health advocates. Find more information at www.theconfessproject.com 


Articles & Other Information

Native American Clinical Trial Participation
https://www.navajo-nsn.gov/govt.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2546598/

Asians in Clinical Research
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24603005/


Additional Resources

The Case for Clinical Trial Diversity

Circle of Trust Exercise

Syneos Health Insights Hub

Parexel created an excellent resource in its ‘Discussions on Diversity’ guide. Check it out HERE.

WCG Podcasts

Veteran’s Affairs:

https://www.research.va.gov/
https://goto.webcasts.com/viewer/event.jsp?ei=1418587&tp_key=f88ca54ad3
https://www.research.va.gov/researchers_whoserved/default.cfm


Important Dates for 2023

February is Black History Month

  • The STARR Diversity Workgroup has created a series of graphics to celebrate just a few of the many African Americans that have had an enormous impact on medicine. We’ll be posting the images throughout Black History Month. Check them out and download the images HERE.
  • 13 Ways to Celebrate and Honor Black History Month

March is Women’s History Month. Access NIMH resources HERE.

May 10 is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day. Access SAMHSA resources HEREand AANHPI resources HERE.

May 10-16, 2023 is National Latina Mental Health Awareness Week. Access Latina Professionals resources HERE and APA resources HERE

June is PRIDE Month. Be on the lookout for our PRIDE Podcast! Access NAMI resources HERE.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month. Access MHA resources HERE.

Commitment to diversity requires each of us to take an active role in promoting, supporting, and encouraging diversity throughout the research industry. With that in mind, STARR stakeholders have created a Diversity Pledge.

 

To find gaps in your site’s diversity plan, we’ve developed a short survey. Once you’ve identified the gaps, we’ll help you close them, moving your diversity goals forward.

 

The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)’s Inclusive Language Guide raises awareness, guides learning, and supports the use of culturally sensitive terms and phrases that center the voices and perspectives of those who are often marginalized or stereotyped.

https://mhanational.org/blog/empowering-yourself-and-your-community-color

Letitia Griffin, CNS Healthcare (Co-chair)

Shishuka Malhotra, Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research (Co-chair)

Temitope Keyes, Adaptive Clinical Systems (Co-chair)

Zach Mitchell, iResearch Atlanta

Kimberly Wolf, Synergy San Diego

Patrick Ezeh, Biogen

Nadine McLeod, Biogen

Poorvi Chablani, Biogen

Jacob Silberstein, Sage

Sarah Titus, Sage

Taylor McCleod, Sage

Ariel Brown, Sage

Van Johnson, Benchmark Research

Nichole Gutierrez, Pillar Clinical Research

Bruce Trimble, Pillar Clinical Research

Irena Webster, Forma Therapeutics

Leslie Franceschi

Luke Kramer, Evolution Research Group

Charles Wilcox, Praxis Research Consulting

Amy Schemer, CNS Healthcare

Kimberly King, DBSA

Matthew Shapiro, NAMI-NYS

Inez Ruiz-White, Otsuka

Michelle Roberts, TEVA

Chris Kuhn, Midwest Clinical Research

Danielle Recasens, Segal Trials

Mallory Mercer, Pillar Clinical Research

Erica Moore, The STARR Coalition

Please note: This list only includes those resources and groups that The STARR Coalition is familiar or affiliated with. If you know of other resources that could be included in this list, please contact us at action@thestarr.org. Thank you!