News
CRI Meeting Focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
From July 12-14, AACI’s Clinical Research Innovation (CRI) convened its 14th annual meeting. The 444 in-person attendees (with an additional 117 joining online) included clinical research office leaders, medical directors, cancer center administrators, and patient advocates, and representatives from government and industry.
Several meeting sessions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Other panel discussion topics included barriers to clinical trial participation; technology; clinical trial feasibility; and preparing for the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). In addition, breakout sessions covered issues such as trial activation outside the clinical trials office (CTO), trial management, the Cognizant Shared Investigator Platform, investigator-initiated trials, and community trial sites.
During a keynote conversation between Monique Phillips, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Kimberly Richardson, Black Cancer Collective, Phillips and Richardson highlighted the importance of authentically engaging with communities; developing a "shared language" for describing clinical research; and mentoring interns, fellows, and other emerging researchers from diverse backgrounds.
In another session focusing on community outreach, panelists explored social determinants of health, representation of diverse groups in clinical trials, health literacy, and managing misinformation and distrust among potential trial participants. Similarly, two other sessions—"Meeting Our Patients on Their Terms" and "Integrating the CTO With Community Outreach and Engagement"—addressed issues such as obstacles to clinical trial participation and operational aspects of opening clinical trials to the community.
A discussion with the NCI's Dr. Krzysztof Ptak provided a detailed overview of the latest changes to the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant, including efforts to expand DEI activities and the impact of COVID-19 on clinical trial capacity.
Authors from 28 cancer centers submitted 74 abstracts for the meeting. This year’s submissions reflected an increase in collaboration between AACI members, vendors, and community partners. Abstract authors Josefina Sanchez, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System; Dr. Erin Hastings Monari, University of Florida Health Cancer Center; and Angela Fritsche, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, presented their winning abstracts and posters.
Supporters worked with AACI to create a meeting environment conducive to learning, networking, and strategic innovation. In addition to participating in plenary sessions and poster discussions, this year’s CRI attendees also had an opportunity to interact with 17 contracted exhibitors that each demonstrate a strong commitment to working with academic cancer centers to help solve operational challenges.
Planning is underway for the 2023 CRI meeting. Please contact AACI Program Manager Kendra Cameron to share your ideas for topics and speakers.