UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the V Foundation for Cancer Research have created a multimedia campaign to promote equity in cancer clinical trial participation. This initiative was designed to reduce disparities in clinical trial enrollment among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Research has demonstrated that clinical trials have a critical role in advancing cancer treatments and improving patient outcomes, yet minority groups remain significantly underrepresented in the studies.
“It’s important for clinical trials to enroll patients of all different ages, races and gender identities so that the information we learn from clinical trials can benefit everyone, not just a subset of the population,” said UNC Lineberger’s Carrie Lee, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at UNC School of Medicine and principal investigator on the grant.
The V Foundation awarded UNC Lineberger a Victory Ride Grant to develop culturally-tailored multimedia resources to increase awareness and participation in clinical trials. The bilingual videos feature UNC Health patients who shared their experiences as clinical trial participants and their perspectives about why being part of a clinical trial was important to them. The videos will complement a range of printed materials such as flyers and pamphlets.
“We’re so proud to invest in exceptional researchers like Dr. Carrie Lee and Dr. Marjory Charlot, who are leading the way in advancing equity in treatment for cancer patients of diverse backgrounds,” said Caroline Smith, PhD, director of Foundation and Scientific Partnerships at the V Foundation. “This grant was funded by the Victory Ride to Cure Cancer, a cycling event hosted locally in the Triangle, and we’re thrilled that these community-raised funds will help so many patients at UNC Lineberger by increasing enrollment in lifesaving clinical trials in cancer care.”
The project builds on existing efforts at UNC Lineberger to reduce and eliminate barriers to participating in clinical trials, including the clinical trial patient navigation program and partnerships with local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to diversify the cancer research workforce. By leveraging multimedia tools, UNC Lineberger aims to bridge the gap in cancer clinical trial participation and ensure that research benefits are equitably shared.
“Many patients are very open to participating in clinical trials once they are asked – they just don’t know a clinical trial could be an option for them,” Lee added. “We, as cancer care providers and researchers, need to do a better job approaching everyone about clinical trial participation.”
The multimedia resources will be available online and on-site at the North Carolina Basnight Cancer Hospital, the clinical home of UNC Lineberger, ensuring broad accessibility and engagement across the UNC Health network. This project represents a crucial advancement in UNC Lineberger’s mission to ensure every person in North Carolina has access to the most effective and advanced cancer care.
Video: The importance of participating in clinical trials, addressing racial disparities in trial participation (in English)
Video: La importancia de participar en ensayos clínicos, abordando las disparidades raciales en la participación en los ensayos (en Español)
Learn more about clinical trials at UNC Lineberger