Diversity in Clinical Research
Fremont, CA, August 26, 2020
Only 3% of the world population have ever participated in a Clinical trial. This has been a major issue for the clinical research industry. The “Lack of Diversity in Clinical Research” affects the trial outcomes and impacts the studies where people spend millions of dollars and decades of research. Among the key issues plaguing the effort to bring diversity to every clinical trial often is the ability to reach a diverse population. Either the site is too far, or the diversity within a region is too low, high travel times, and other hazards often are detrimental to diversity efforts. Many clinical trial companies are forced to exclude certain populations, age categories, and pre-existing conditions (or not, as the case may be) to ensure they are setting up proper trials as per the established procedures. Take for example, for several decades, research studies were completely focused on men, not allowing women to participate. (Another popular example may be people who suffer from comorbidities, such as: someone who is HIV positive and also diagnosed with cancer, typically are not allowed to participate).
Telemedicine is here to change all that. It has become a savior for not just clinical research but also to the healthcare industry thanks to the rich echo system of remote patient care monitors and apps. Telemedicine ensures a much wider outreach to tap into patients located far and wide from the trial site, ensuring a much wider access to the patient population and thereby increasing diversity.