Moffitt Joins National Pilot Project To Increase Diversity in Cancer Trials

Moffitt Cancer Center is participating in a national pilot project being conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC). The pilot project is testing a research site self-assessment tool and an implicit bias training program focused on increasing racial and ethnic diversity among cancer treatment trial participants.

The joint ASCO-ACCC initiative was designed to identify and implement novel strategies and practical solutions to increase cancer treatment trial participation among patients from racial and ethnic minority communities, which continue to be underrepresented in cancer research when compared with their percentages in the overall population of patients with cancer.

Moffitt will be a part of the self-assessment tool pilot study and will provide feedback to ASCO and ACCC about the feasibility and utility of the resources and training.

“We are so thrilled to be part of this important initiative. By participating with 75 other sites, we have the opportunity to learn from each other to better serve our patients and community,” said Susan Vadaparampil, Ph.D., MPH, co-principal investigator of the study and associate center director of Community Outreach, Engagement and Equity at Moffitt.

Moffitt became involved in the initiative to help identify research site factors, such as policies, procedures, programs and infrastructure, that may be impacting which patients are screened for and offered a cancer treatment trial, as well as factors impacting patient participation and retention.

“As a physician who leads clinical trial efforts at Moffitt, I know the power of partnerships to increase participation in trials among diverse communities. This project is an important way to gain momentum on these efforts at our cancer center,” said Hatem Soliman, M.D., co-principal investigator of the study and medical director of the Clinical Trials Office at Moffitt.

Data collection for the pilot project will conclude at the end of the year. ASCO and ACCC aim to rollout an updated implicit bias training program and self-assessment tool to the larger oncology community in late spring 2022.

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