Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that determine whether medical products like medicines, vaccines, or devices are safe and effective for people. Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will be using the medical products, though this is often not the case. Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials. This is a concern because people of different ages, races, and ethnicities may react differently to medical products. If you think a clinical trial may be right for you, talk to your doctor.
You can also search for clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov--an online database of clinical trials sponsored by FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Watch this webinar for help navigating ClinicalTrials.gov
Clinical Trial Resources
- About Research Participation
- Fact Sheet: Minorities in Clinical Trials [Spanish]
- Brochure: Become a Research Volunteer! [Spanish]
- Webinar: Get to Know ClinicalTrials.gov! [Slides]
- Clinical Trial Diversity Toolkit
- Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data in Clinical Trails- Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff
- FDASIA Section 907: Inclusion of Demographic Subgroups in Clinical Trials
- Women in Clinical Trials
- Drug Trials Snapshots
- Inside Clinical Trials: Testing Medical Products in People
- NIH Infographic- Why do researchers do different types of clinical studies?
- Clinical Trials: What Patients Need to Know
Consumer Updates
- FDA Encourages More Participation, Diversity in Clinical Trials [Spanish]
- Who's in Clinical Trials? [Spanish]
- Would Your Child Benefit from a Clinical Trial? [Spanish]
Journal Publications
FDA Voices, Interviews, and Outreach
Videos on Clinical Trials
Latinos Can Make a Difference in Clinical Trials
Inclusion of Veterans in Clinical Trials- Zulma Santiago
Inclusion of Veterans in Clinical Trials- Quinyardo McClain
Diversity is Critical to Making Better Medical Products (Short)
Diversity is Critical to Making Better Medical Products (Long)
Getting Access to Cutting Edge Therapies
You Don't Have to be Sick to Participate
How to Find Information about Clinical Trials