September 1, 2023: 

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Diversity Committee talks with investigators, industry sponsors and patient advocates on how to work together to develop policies and strategic priorities for the Big Ten CRC that will foster growth, learning, and change that will create a more equitable environment for patients enrolled in clinical trials. Episode one: “Conversation with the Co-Chairs” is now available on Spotify and Amazon Music!

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Diversity Committee is comprised of investigators from our member institutions across disease types who work together to develop policies and strategic priorities for the Big Ten CRC that will foster growth, learning, and change that will create a more equitable environment for patients enrolled in clinical trials.

In this podcast, the co-chairs discuss the plans for the strategic priorities they would like to tackle as a group. This includes improving health equity through access to clinical trials, increase awareness and opportunities for clinical trial participation among underrepresented populations, provide expanded resources for investigators to encourage travel (ex. attendance at conferences), foster relationships with minority healthcare associations and other groups to bring new perspectives to clinical research.

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium recognizes the importance of racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in clinical trial participation. Together, and individually, we are committed to actively working toward clinical trial development and participation that reflects the demographics of disease in our sub groups to interventions and therapies. We recognize the need for outreach to all patient populations to emphasize the positive benefits gained from participation in clinical trials, and for collaborative efforts to remove the social and economic barriers that prevent individuals from participating in clinical research.

Learn more about the Diversity Committee. 

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten cancer centers have united to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium creates a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to treatment-changing paradigms. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org