The MRCT Center, in partnership with the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DFHCC), is pleased to offer a six-part online training course entitled Equity by Design in Clinical Research: Cancer Trials. The course focuses on best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of underrepresented populations in clinical trials. Ethical and regulatory considerations will be included, and practical guidance for commitment, communication, partnership, and conduct will be emphasized.
This virtual course is a six-part series. One module will be presented each week from 4:30-6:00 pm EST (on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays) for six weeks. All modules will begin with 45 minutes of instruction, followed by 45 minutes of discussion with leaders in the field. Attendees are encouraged to attend all sessions but are not required to do so.
We invite you to learn more about the course.
CME credits will be available.
3/8/22 – Module 1: Commitment to DEI
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer, Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Ms. LaShell Robinson,
Director for Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Ravi Thadhani,
Chief Academic Officer, Mass General Brigham
Professor of Medicine and Academic Dean, Harvard Medical School
Commitment to DEI will describe the grounds for institutional and individual commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical research, and illustrate how to substantiate commitment with actions, metrics, and resources.
3/17/22 – Module 2: Community Engagement and Representation
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer
Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Dr. Narjust Duma
Associate Director, Cancer Care Equity Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Karen M. Emmons
Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Faculty Director, Community Engagement Program, Harvard Catalyst
Community Engagement and Representation will focus upon the importance of open, respectful, and clear communication throughout the community engagement and trial process; practical strategies for implementing and sustaining community and stakeholder engagement; and consideration for the complexity of data that needs to be interoperable, appropriately defined, and representative of diverse communities.
3/22/22 – Module 3: Study Planning and Communications
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer
Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Dr. Nadine J. McCleary
Medical Oncologist, Department of Medical Oncology in the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Lindsay McNair
Chief Medical Officer, WIRB-Copernicus Group (WCG)
Study Planning and Communications will describe how to optimize the study question, design, and communications for diversity, equity, and inclusion in cancer clinical research. The impact of study design, eligibility criteria, feasibility assessment, site selection, decentralization of trials, and health literate and linguistically appropriate communications on recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations will be discussed.
3/31/22 – Module 4: Study Conduct
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer
Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Dr. Christopher S. Lathan
Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Christopher and Constance Hadley Family Chair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Associate Medical Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Network
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Sapna S. McManus
Head of Patient Inclusion & Health Equity and Chief Diversity Officer, Genentech
Study Conduct will emphasize components of study conduct and post-trial commitments to address barriers in participation and trust.
4/5/22 – Module 5: Workforce Development
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer
Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Ms. Shannon K. Bell
Director, Workforce Planning and Development, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health
Executive Coach
Co-chair, Promoting an Equitable and Inclusive NCI Community
Dr. Valerie E. Stone
Vice-Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Director of Health Equity Initiatives, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Workforce Development will consider strategies for fostering recruitment, professional growth, and retention of a clinical research workforce representative of intended participant populations in clinical trials.
4/14/22 – Module 6: Accountability, Advocacy, and Justice
PRESENTER AND MODERATOR
Dr. Barbara E. Bierer
Faculty Director, MRCT Center
DISCUSSANTS
Dr. Ebony Boulware
Professor and Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine
Director, Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Vice Dean for Translational Science, Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Duke University
Dr. Lola Fashoyin-Aje
Deputy Division Director, Division of Oncology 3, Office of Oncologic Diseases, OND/CDER
Associate Director, Science and Policy to Address Health Disparities, Oncology Center of Excellence, Food and Drug Administration
Accountability, Advocacy, and Justice describes processes for incorporating monitoring, review, accountability, and transparency, and considers opportunities for action both to uphold commitments and to advance equity by design in cancer clinical research.