Clinical Research Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Why is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Research Important?

It is important to have a wide range of people from different communities and backgrounds joining clinical research studies and trials to reduce inequity, injustice and disparities, and improve healthcare for everyone.

• Not all individuals respond the same to treatment or therapy. A diverse representation in clinical research studies and trials is important to understand individual responses to investigational treatments and advise treatment accordingly.
• Volunteers in clinical research studies and trials must reflect the population to ensure generalizable results.
• Clinical research is the only way to develop and ensure the safety and effectiveness of new or existing medical treatments, understand patient needs, and to grow and enhance medical knowledge.

For more resources on achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical research:

• Review this guidance document “Achieving Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Clinical Research” by the MRCT Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard; and
• Read this guidance for industry “Enhancing the Diversity of Clinical Trial Populations – Eligibility Criteria, Enrollment Practices, and Trial Designs” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration.

What Are We Doing to Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Research?

eq·ui·ty /ˈekwədē/ the quality of being fair and impartial.

The UH Clinical Research Center (CRC) works closely with internal and external stakeholders to build and continuously improve policies, practices, programs, initiatives, and resources that support the UH system’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through social justice and equity norms.

Our internal partners include:

• The Office of Community Impact, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center’s Office of Community Impact, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI) is responsible for supporting, promoting, and implementing programs that maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that provides culturally relevant patient care.
• UH Office of Government and Community Relations (Community Benefit). The University Hospitals Office of Government and Community Relations manages community benefit efforts where the focus is on being promoters and agents of health equity.

Our staff is encouraged to learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion through internal programs and classes that explore topics, including bias in healthcare, race, ethnicity, and culture, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, ability (i.e., mental, physical), and socioeconomic status. We grow personally and professionally through exposure to topics outside the normal scope of work in order to provide an exceptional clinical research participant experience.

University Hospitals Diversity Commitment and Mission

• UH is committed to equity and inclusion with all of our patients and families, our physicians, our workforce, our business partners and the communities that we serve.
• We will enhance our cultural competency by educating, recognizing and celebrating the value of diverse cultures, beliefs and identities.

UH Diversity Vision Statement

• University Hospitals will be a national leader in diversity by advancing cultural competency, equity and inclusion with all of our constituencies.