November 3, 2022 – Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care is pleased to be the recipient of a $652,000 grant over three years from BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company headquartered in Franklin Lakes, NJ, to The Valley Hospital Foundation. The grant will help fund diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) interventions that will increase access to clinical trials and leading-edge healthcare opportunities for underrepresented patient populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups.
In August 2021, Valley Health System was selected as one of 75 research sites nationwide to participate in a pilot project, launched in collaboration between the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), which focused on increasing racial and ethnic diversity in cancer clinical trials participants. The goal of this pilot project was to establish strategies and solutions to increase participation in cancer treatment clinical trials, particularly among individuals from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic communities.
As a participating research site, Valley conducted a site self-assessment to identify any policies, procedures, or programs that may affect which patients are screened for and offered a clinical trial. Research and care team members also underwent implicit bias training to acknowledge and mitigate bias that may affect which patients are offered clinical trials.
Using the knowledge gained from participation in this pilot program, Valley has drafted The Oncology Program Clinical Trial Diversity Initiative, which includes several internal interventions that, when acted upon, will enhance clinical trial recruitment and ensure participation of underrepresented groups in cancer clinical trials is achieved. Interventions include a ride share program, health literacy and awareness campaigns, expanded eligibility criteria, relationships with faith-based organizations, creation of a community needs assessment and patient-friendly navigation system, and increased use of telemedicine technologies.
The Oncology Program Clinical Trial Diversity Initiative is slated to roll out over the course of the next five years.