Gilead commits $14 million to BMS’ trial investigator diversity training programme

Gilead Sciences has said it will support the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation’s diversity-focused clinical trial investigator training programme.

The US drug maker behind Sovaldi, Harvoni, and Epclusa has said it will donate $14 million to the programme over the next four years.

Gilead CMO Merdad Parsey said, “This program is already developing the capabilities of a diverse group of clinical researchers who are committed to engaging their communities and ensuring that all impacted people are represented in clinical trials, which is essential for a full understanding of how medicines work.

“Gilead is proud to support this work that builds on our existing efforts to ensure that greater inclusion and diversity are embedded into the design of clinical trials and to put the needs of patients first.”

The programme – known as the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program - is a $100m, five year initiative developed in collaboration with the National Medical Fellowships (NMF) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

The first cohort of trainees – who entered the programme last November – include physicians from 22 states across the US and include 34 women and 18 men who represent a diverse cross section of races and ethnicities.

According to the Foundation the two-year programme began with an AACR workshop on clinical trial design, followed by training in the skills and competencies needed to effectively engage with communities to recruit diverse participants.

National Medical Fellowships CEO Michellene Davis said, “This program is a game-changer in the fight to advance health equity and to make both the field and practice of clinical research more inclusive.
“It provides a critical on-ramp for physicians and students underrepresented in medicine to become clinical investigators and lead community-oriented research that benefits all populations.”

News of Gilead’s support for the programme comes a few months after the publication of research by Tufts which suggested that site staff diversity is linked to participant diversity.

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