Is There Diversity in Clinical Trials?

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Clinical trials are vastly overrepresented by people typically defined as white and from urban areas. That can mean that treatments developed in them may not work for all populations. Race is actually built into this barometer. For example, it has been reported that the pulse oximeter is mostly calibrated on lighter skinned individuals. This creates a bias that means it might not work on populations with darker skin.

When COVID-19 hit it didn't kill indiscriminately. In the US, being Black, Hispanic, or Native American meant you had a much greater risk of death than if you were white. And these disparities are mirrored across the world.

In this episode we explore the complex tale behind this disparity. Throughout history, racism and biases have been embedded within medical technology, along the clinicians who use it. Cultural concepts of race have been falsely conflated with biology. The way medicine is taught, has reinforced flawed stereotypes. Disease itself, has been racialised. All of this adds up to barriers to care and worse health outcomes for many people, just because of the colour of their skin.

Science and scientists have played an influential part in embedding such racism into medicine But by challenging received wisdom science too has the power to right wrongs, and work towards solutions.

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