Medical research and clinical trials are crucial to determining if treatments are effective and safe. Their effectiveness may vary because of participant’s ethnicity, lifestyle, and genes. Certain differences between race and ethnic groups may be missed because of a lack of diversity in research. Compared to current United States demographics, minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials. African Americans and Hispanics account for about 12 and 16 percent of the total population. However, only 5 percent of clinical trial participants are African American and only 1 percent are Hispanic, despite these groups being at a higher risk for certain diseases and conditions. African-American men are twice as likely as White men to die from prostate cancer. Hispanic men have a 70 percent higher rate of stomach cancer compared to non-Hispanic whites. Diabetes affects Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans more than twice as much as Caucasians. Read more here and here.
A campaign called I’m In has been found in order to address the lack of diversity in clincial trials. Learn more about how to get involved at JoinImIn.org
