Morehouse School of Medicine combats health equity gaps in clinical trial participation among those of African descent

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August 12th, 2022

The Morehouse School of Medicine building is seen on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

On the Friday edition of “Closer Look,” health equity expert and newly appointed Morehouse School of Medicine senior vice president of research reporting Dr. Rick Kittles discusses health equity in clinical research.

Significant gaps in health equity of the demographic of clinical trials exist within the medical community. For many diseases that disproportionally affect Black Americans and those of African descent, participation in trials and research is notably low.

Dr. Kittles pointed to a lack of engagement and outreach in these communities from predominately white medical institutions and added that addressing these issues is key to promoting equitable access to health care.

“When I look across the landscape around the country and think about this issue with health equity and how [we can] really make substantial change, it’s much more than just the research project, [and] it’s much more than just setting up some clinic in the community. There is a level of education that has to roll out to the community, to these families, to these individuals,” Dr. Kittles said. “There’s a level of advocacy to researchers and also to health care providers around particular issues and health. There is this issue of a policy change and advocating for policy change, so it’s multi-level.”

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