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Yale Cancer Center has announced it has received collaborative funding aiming to support and increase access to early phase clinical trials for patients at community sites for cancer care in Connecticut, US.

The Yale Cancer Center Consortium to Advance Equity in Early-Phase Clinical Trials, led by Patricia M LoRusso DO PhD FASCO, aims to address disparities in participation in clinical trials.

Companies collaborating with Yale Cancer Center on this initiative include: Genentech, Gilead Sciences and Boehringer Ingelheim, all of which have provided funding and support for the Consortium which will help to improve access to phase 1 clinical trials. The Consortium’s main goal is to increase access to these early phase clinical trials for cancer patients who would otherwise not receive novel investigational therapeutic interventions.

Dr LoRusso commented: “We strongly believe that by bringing these trials closer to where our patients live and work, and helping them overcome social and structural barriers that negatively impact both accessibility and the treatment of their cancer, the likelihood of research participation by these patient populations will increase, which could significantly improve both their treatment options and quality of life. […] Our project addresses the lack of representation of underrepresented and minoritised populations in early phase cancer clinical trials from a lack of accessibility. Black patients account for 13% and Hispanic patients represent 18% of the US population, yet each population accounts for less than four percent of all patients enrolled onto cancer clinical trials; representation is even less on early phase trials. One of the largest representation barriers is not having availability of trials close to where the patients live and work.”