Posted on May 12, 2015

When done well, clinical trials can help answer research questions and provide access to cutting edge treatments. They establish standards of care and inform the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval process. Once a treatment is FDA approved, it becomes eligible for insurance reimbursement and therefore more accessible. Yet only 2% or 3% of women with breast cancer take part in clinical trials. The webinar explored the importance and benefits of diverse participation in clinical trials, innovative methods to improve participation and the advocacy work being done at the FDA.

Our two presenters were;

  • Galen Joseph, Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco and;
  • Cindy Pearson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Health Network