Pleins feux sur les organisations : Trial Equity
The mission of Trial Equity is to address the underrepresentation of diverse populations in clinical trials, ultimately advancing health equity. Cofounder and principal consultant Dr. Otis Johnson has an extensive background in drug development—he was a founding member of Merck’s clinical informatics group and held leadership positions in clinical research at other companies including Syneos and Icon. But it was in his role as Chief Diversity, Inclusion & Sustainability Officer at Clario, a company that collects data for clinical trials, that he fully recognized the disparity in trial participation, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities. He realized that Black patients were underrepresented in clinical trials by as high as 65 percent, and a large percentage of trials had no representation of Hispanic patients at all. “What that means is that you could have a loved one who needs to take a drug for a life-threatening condition, but no confidence that it's going to work because it wasn't tested in their demographic,” Johnson explains.
In an effort to find solutions to this problem, he founded Trial Equity in the summer of 2023. The company recognizes the critical role diverse trial populations play in developing effective treatments and emphasizes the need for patient participation in the drug development process.
Otis Johnson, cofondateur et consultant principal de Trial Equity
Trial Equity’s mission is focused not only on recruiting diverse patients but also on increasing diversity among the clinicians involved in clinical trials. The company offers a learning course designed for clinical research professionals, focusing on cultural sensitivity and effective communication when engaging potential participants. The course provides insights on addressing objections, fostering cultural awareness, and improving enrollment practices.
Trial Equity donne la priorité à l'adoption par les utilisateurs de ce cours d'apprentissage au sein de l'industrie au cours des six prochains mois, en se concentrant sur l'attrait et l'applicabilité à grande échelle. La feuille de route de l'entreprise comprend des plans pour une formation intensive à la sensibilité culturelle et pour répondre aux besoins régionaux et spécifiques aux indications en fonction des demandes. En outre, Trial Equity élabore un cours destiné à l'intégration des nouveaux chercheurs, afin de s'attaquer au problème de la diversité insuffisante des médecins chercheurs dans les essais cliniques.
As Trial Equity progresses, Johnson remains committed to addressing the urgent need for diversity in clinical trials, acknowledging the potential positive impact of finding cures and treatments for various health conditions, including rare diseases.
Le Dr Johnson est l'un des lauréats du Pharmavoice 100 et a récemment reçu le prix Honorable Mentor de la Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, qui récompense un allié masculin ayant fait preuve d'un engagement à long terme en faveur de l'avancement, du mentorat et de la promotion des femmes dans l'industrie des soins de santé.
Pour en savoir plus :
Visit TrialEquity.com to find out more about the company, or to request a demo of the course.
