LABEST invites CTSI to discuss improving representation in clinical trials

On May 24 and 25, LABEST, a premiere bioscience conference in the LA Region, brought together industry, VCs, investors, researchers and partners including USC, City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, CalTech and more at UCLA campus. This year's event featured fireside chats, keynote speakers, breakout sessions with incubators, biomanufacturers, student researchers, learning lounges, industry sponsored research and research theme intensives. 

CTSI was invited to lead the research showcase on clinical trial access and enrollment, with an emphasis on how CTSI partners are breaking barriers to improve representation in clinical trials. Moderated by Dr. Arash Naeim, co-director of the UCLA CTSI, associate dean for clinical research and CMO for clinical research for UCLA Health, the presentations including the following notable speakers and topics:

"Improving Access to Clinical Trials for Underrepresented Populations: Patient Focused Initiatives"
Maria Garcia-Jimenez, MD, MHS
Medical Oncologist and Clinical Trialist
Winn Scholar
Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
-and-
Sylvia Ferullo
Clinical Trial Navigator
UCLA Department of Medicine

"The (Re)Search for Inclusive Healthcare Designmatters"
Zul Surani
Director, Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) & OperationsCancer Research Center for
Health Equity
Cedars-Sinai

"Cost of Consent Document Translation as a Barrier to Clinical Trial Participation"
Maria Velez Velez, MD
Hematology-Oncology Fellow
-and-
Eddie Garon, MD, MS
Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

"C3PO Reflections"
Kabir Yadav, MDCM, MS, MSHS, FACEP
Vice Chair for Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Lundquist/Harbor-UCLA

Image caption: Left to right, Arash Naeim, MD, Maria Garcia-Jimenez, MD, MHS, Sylvia Ferullo, Zul Surani, Maria Velez Velez, MD, Kabir Yadav, MDCM, MS, MSHS, FACEP