Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EQBMED) and the W. Montague Cobb Institute are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership aimed at creating an equitable and more diverse clinical trial landscape, from participant to provider.

EQBMED — led by Yale School of Medicine, along with the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Coordinating Center at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center — has developed a collaborative approach, working with trusted voices within the community to address critical barriers facing communities of color and rural residents. The program works to increase awareness of clinical trials and address misinformation and historical mistrust while ensuring trials are easily accessible.

As part of this collaboration with EQBMED, the W. Montague Cobb Institute will develop training sessions, webinars, and workshops, to train and retain health care providers and researchers, while creating a pathway for medical students and young professionals to enter the field of clinical trial research. By collaborating with medical education programs, EQBMED and the W. Montague Cobb Institute aim to inspire the next generation of clinical researchers and increase diversity within the field.

“These collaborations are essential in furthering EQBMED's goal of advancing equity and access to innovative clinical trials,” said Tesheia Harris (Johnson), chief strategy officer at Yale Center for Clinical Investigation at Yale School of Medicine. “Through our combined commitment to fostering diversity in clinical trials, we can continue to forge a path toward a more inclusive landscape for medical research.”

"Through collaboration with EQBMED, the W. Montague Cobb Institute envisions a future of synergy and a revived talent pipeline, where our shared commitment to health equity serves as a beacon, illuminating pathways to transformative change,” said President and CEO Randall C. Morgan, Jr. MD, MBA. “As a leading institution dedicated to advancing racial and ethnic health disparities research, the W. Montague Cobb Institute brings a rich legacy of scholarship, advocacy, and community engagement to this partnership. Together, we harness our collective expertise to address the systemic inequities that persist in healthcare, ensuring that every individual has access to quality care and opportunities for optimal health outcomes.”

EQBMED is funded and supported by a grant from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

For more information about EQBMED and the W. Montague Cobb Institute, please visit https://www.thecobbinstitute.org/ and

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About Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development

Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EBQMED) is a pioneering partnership committed to transforming the landscape of clinical trials by advancing diversity, transparency, and knowledge. This collaborative, community-based partnership is led by Yale School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Coordinating Center at Morehouse School of Medicine, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and supported by grant funding from PhRMA. By empowering community-based sites and addressing historical disparities, the program is dedicated to creating a more inclusive future in medicine development.

About the W. Montague Cobb Institute

The W. Montague Cobb Institute for the Study of Black Health and Society is a leading research and advocacy organization focused on advancing the health and well-being of Black communities. The Institute conducts research, promotes education, and engages in community outreach to address health disparities and promote health equity.

About PhRMA

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier and more productive lives.  PhRMA has convened thousands of stakeholders to explore a new potential infrastructure with diverse communities, health systems, and academia that seeks to show proof of concept for a network of connected, community-rooted and sustainable trial sites. PhRMA provided a grant to Yale University to support the creation and development of this initiative. Learn more about PhRMA’s Equity Initiative at PhRMA.org/Equity.