Yale Aims to Increase Clinical Trial Participation

In an effort to increase clinical trial participation, particularly in minorities, the University and wider New Haven community have new initiatives that will offer infrastructural and logistical support to clinical trial researchers. This new push for enrollment comes after two previous attempts, the creation of the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation in January 2006 and the cultural outreach program to include minority communities. According to YCCI Chief Operating Officer Tesheia Johnson, the new initiatives were informed through extensive research and surveys.


Patients will now be reimbursed immediately with refillable credit cards rather than inconvenient checks. Clinical trials are being advertised to the community on MyChart and through the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The church's pastor, Reverend Eldren Morrison, said that individualized solutions are key. He says participation is growing because the community is being engaged in conversation and trial advertisements are carefully selected for the congregation. YCCI is also working with Junta for Progressive Action in the New Haven Latino community.


The lack of minority participants makes it difficult to know if a drug or treatment is going to be safe for minority groups. According to Sherwin, minorities are hesitant to participate because of past prejudice, mistreatment, and limited access, as well as religious beliefs and confusing clinical language.


Robert Sherwin, YCCI Director and section chief of endocrinology at the Yale School of Medicine, said that clinical trials have not been as greatly emphasized due to a lack of infrastructure and support staff. According to the Director of the Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital, Thomas Lynch, the Cancer Center has the opposite issues with too many willing participants and not enough room. The National Institutes of Health have granted over $100 million since the YCCI's launch in 2006, and YCCI has been increasing participation in trials for the past 6 years.