WFU HES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update

Why

Each update will include a quick example or case-study highlighting why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are necessary to improve learning in the classroom and the reach, uptake, and sustainability of our research efforts.

This month we focus on intensifying efforts within the National Institutes of Health—and especially within the National Institute on Aging—to improve diversity in clinical trials research.

Here is a recent blog post from the National Institute on Aging regarding funding prioritization for projects with clear diverse enrollment plans. Click the quote to see the post.

"Moving forward, NIA will prioritize funding requests with proposed planned enrollment that are 1) representative of the population affected by the disease, condition, or health experience; and 2) appropriately inclusive of racial and ethnic groups; participants across the lifespan; as well as other populations experiencing health disparities, including sexual and gender minority, persons with disabilities, or socioeconomically disadvantaged and geographically underrepresented populations.”

Here is a recent post in Science regarding the focus placed by Monica Bertagnolli—Director of the NIH—on equity.

Bertagnolli said on the Zoom call that growing up on a ranch in Wyoming 160 kilometers from a hospital and her experiences as a cancer surgeon, tumor immunology researcher, and clinical trial leader have shaped her views on NIH and the need to make its research more inclusive. She also mentioned family illnesses, including a child with autism and her treatment in the past year for early breast cancer. “My focus is to make sure that the biological insights identified in laboratories are pursued aggressively in ways that speed their application to improve the circumstances of real people,” she said.

How

Each page will also include resources that teachers and researchers can leverage to improve their own diversity efforts within the department.

Fortunately, the Wake Forest research community offers some excellent—and ever-expanding—resources to help researchers improve the diversity of individuals participating in their trials.

First, consider a conversation with our very own Crystal Dixon and Megan Irby, each of whom have extensive expertise in community-engaged research practices and can provide guidance in fostering and sustaining trusting community-academic research partnerships.

Many of our faculty have also taken advantage of resources in the Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI), including the **Program in Community-Engaged Research (PCER)** and the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity (MACHE).

The PCER focuses on developing healthy and trusting community-academic relationships, and offers consultation during project development and conduct, and these services can be requested directly from their website. Note that the PCER is under the new leadership of Dr. Joey Skelton—pediatrician, Director of the Brenner FIT program, and long-time friend of the HES department.

MACHE also offers a host of valuable resources to researchers interested in building relationships with underserved and underrepresented communities, and has a strategic focus on healthy aging. Aside from providing consultation, the center maintains active relationships with a variety of community groups and offers education and events to the research and medical communities in Winston Salem.