BIO Takes on Health Equity
in Clinical Trials
First-ever
BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit will engage stakeholders to build a
sustainable and equitable clinical development ecosystem
Washington, D.C. (June
10, 2021) – When clinical trials were the center of
attention this past year, another issue came to the forefront: the need for
greater health equity in clinical trials. The Biotechnology Innovation
Organization (BIO) today announced the featured speakers at its first-ever BIO
Clinical Trial Diversity Summit June 24-25, 2021.
The virtual summit will bring
together stakeholders from across the clinical development spectrum to address
inequities, learn from patient experts and help companies improve trials. The
summit will culminate in the creation of a comprehensive vision for an
equitable drug development ecosystem and transforming that vision into an
actionable strategy to execute real change.
“More diverse clinical trials
not only improve outcomes, but they also benefit the entire health care
industry,” stated Ted W. Love, M.D., president and CEO of Global Blood
Therapeutics (GBT) and Chair of the Emerging Companies Section of the BIO Board
of Directors, who will moderate the “Social and Business Imperative of
Increasing Clinical Trial Diversity” session at the summit. “The BIO Clinical
Trial Diversity summit brings together industry, community and clinical
research leaders and patient advocates to help move this from conversation to
action.”
Speakers
include industry leaders, academics and health equity experts from across the
field including:
·
Silas Buchanan, Co-founder and CEO, Institute
for eHealth Equity
·
Dr. Cartier Esham, PhD, Chief Scientific
Officer, BIO
·
Dr. Julie Gerberding, MD, Chief Patient Officer,
Executive VP of Population Health, Global Policy, Merck
·
David Coman, MBA, President and CEO of Science
37
·
Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, MD, PhD, President
and CEO of BIO
·
Dr. Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical
Officer, Gilead
·
Dr. Elena V. Rios, MD, President and CEO,
National Hispanic Medical Association, National Hispanic Health Foundation
·
Dr. Darryl Sleep, MD, Chief Medical Officer,
Amgen
Also speaking at the conference
is Debra Fraser-Howze, founder of Choose Healthy Life, and principal with D. Fraser Associates. “It takes partnership and collaboration to solve the
historical problem of racism and health inequities in health care,” she said.
“I look forward to the opportunity to speak on community and patient engagement
at the BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit. We have to build support with
patients and advocates to have meaningful change.”
To counteract the
systemic inequality, injustice and unfair treatment of underserved communities,
BIO launched its BIOEquality
Agenda in 2020. Enhancing clinical trials is at the heart
of the agenda’s three pillars for change – Promote Health Equity,
Invest in the Current and Next Generation of Scientists, and Expand Opportunity
for Women and Other Underrepresented Populations.
Registration
for the BIO
Clinical Trial Diversity Summit is free and
open to all participants.
