NMA Forms Project IMPACT 2.0 Coalition to Increase Minority Participation in Clinical Trials

Silver Spring, MD - The National Medical Association (NMA) is launching the formation of the Project IMPACT 2.0 (Increase Minority Participation and Awareness of Clinical Trials) Coalition. Since its inception in 1999, Project IMPACT has remained steadfast in its commitment to improve the validity of clinical trials data by supporting the use of medications in African American and other minority patients. The Project IMPACT 2.0 Coalition will bring together stakeholders from industry, research institutions, regulatory agencies and the community to examine critical barriers to diverse participation in clinical research, to educate providers and consumers about the importance of diversity in clinical research, and to identify opportunities for underrepresented minority providers to participate as investigators in clinical research, all in an effort to increase our impact.

Project IMPACT trained hundreds of minority healthcare providers for participation in clinical trials, and Project IMPACT 2.0 aims to do the same. “My patients are better served by the knowledge and skills I gained from attending the IMPACT training,” said Dr. John McAdory, an internist in Miami, FL and graduate of the IMPACT program. “As a clinical investigator, I contributed to the “evidence” in evidence-based medicine and, as a result, both my patients and I have gained from the experience.”

“The importance of increasing participation of people from groups who are underrepresented in clinical trials cannot be overstated. NMA is committed to developing an aggressive campaign to educate the public and quell the history, myths, and distrust associated with clinical trials in the minority community,” said Dr. Leon McDougle, President of the National Medical Association.

African Americans represent 13 percent of the U.S. population but only five percent of physicians, and only one percent of clinical investigators. According to Dr. Doris Browne, Principal Investigator of this initiative, “Increasing the number of African American physicians who value, understand, and participate in clinical research will lead to increased participation of underserved populations in clinical trials, thus, leading to better health outcomes.”

Coalition members, to date, include: W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; Amgen; Eli Lilly and Company; Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson; Novartis; and Pfizer.

It is our duty as healthcare providers, scientists, researchers, and educators to be a trusted voice, not only for the African American community, but for all populations, about the importance of being actively involved in their medical care, treatment and research.