Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Racial/Ethnic Data Collection Serves as Example of Pilot Project Possibilities
This article is a part of our CTSC special feature series.
The first Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC), Research Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) themed-pilot received applications from CWRU and one or more individuals from our partner hospitals–Cleveland Clinic, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals. One of the prerequisites for applying was to complete a READI Consultation to: (1) ensure understanding of the inspiration behind and intent of the theme, and (2) encourage applicants to expand or refine the scope of proposed projects.
Before reviewers reviewed the applications and scores were tallied, we sat down with Dr. Debora Bruno, thoracic oncologist at University Hospitals (UH) to learn about what UH is doing to ensure comprehensive racial/ethnic data collection. “Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC) keeps accurate records when it comes to race and ethnicity to ensure that diverse patients are enrolled in studies,” Dr. Bruno said. She added that they review racial and ethnic distribution of patients who participate in intervention trials–not just treatment–including studies that address behaviors, supportive measures, interactions with caregivers, and screening. Kevin Hoy, PhD, Director of the CCCC Clinical Research Office, is the “wizard” behind the datasets and keeps their team updated monthly regarding progress.
“Tumor registry data informs what we know about the percentage of patients with every type of cancer is for patients seen at Cleveland Clinic and UH’s main campuses where there are clinical sites for CCCC. We know what the distribution of patients is at both sites. We can see the percentage of patients with all racial/ethnic characteristics,” she added.
When asked about resources available for accountability in terms of racial/ethnic data, Dr. Bruno explained that they try to understand why one investigator might find greater success than another. “Is the trial more appealing to patients? Has the investigator prioritized racial/ethnic diversity in enrollment and that is why they have a track record of diverse enrollment? All of that information is both available via reports and used by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to ensure we’re in alignment with equity expectations,” Dr. Bruno said.
“We should use more human power to provide a personalized experience for patients. The reality is that navigators who capture the patient after diagnosis have an opportunity to start the education process regarding clinical trials and understanding all that is involved before the patient sees an oncologist,” Dr. Bruno declared.
Will one or more of our READI themed-pilot awardees tackle this issue in a similar way? We’ll find out at the conclusion of their project in 2023. In the interim, we extend a hearty congratulations to the following teams:
- Kevin Cooper, MD and Toluwalashe Onamusi, MD - Identifying Factors Contributing to Racial Disparities Among African Americans with Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma; and
- Richard Hoehn, MD, and Wiechuan Dong, PhD - Defining disparities in clinical trial enrollment in Northeast Ohio.