PROJECT IMPACT DESCRIPTION
Welcome to Project IMPACT
(Increase Minority Participation and Awareness in Clinical Trials)
Clinical trials research is the basis for the clinical decision making used in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and development of health policies that guide medical interventions. Numerous studies have revealed racial differences not only with regard to disease epidemiology, but also drug response and disposition.
The African-American community generally distrusts the medical community therefore NMA:
Advocates for maximal effectiveness of human subject protection through oversight agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug
Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as Institutional Review Boards (IRBs).
Strongly advocates for the increased participation, via appointments of African-Americans in human-subject oversight protection.
Advocates for the implementation of a system of periodic certification or accreditation of IRBs by an independent body to ensure:
-Adequate training of IRB members.
-Appropriate implementation of oversight policies.
-An understanding of the impact of cultural issues on the research process.
Encourages research sponsors to increase the use of community-based physicians with whom long-term patient relationships have been established.
There are insufficient numbers of African-American physicians engaged in biomedical and clinical research, therefore NMA:
Encourages future African-American physicians towards careers in biomedical research.
Encourages current African-American physicians engaged in community or private practice to participate in biomedical research as principal or associate investigators.
Seeks to involve the historically black medical schools in NMA research education programs to increase the number of researchers/academicians.
Provides African-American students and post-graduate trainees with information and support to facilitate their entry into careers in biomedical research.
Establishes an individual recognition program throughout the various disciplines and stages of training/practice, to heighten perceived value and increase awareness of biomedical research.
The inadequate representation of African-Americans in biomedical and clinical research has a negative impact on the quality of medical care therefore NMA:
Encourages efforts to quantify disease-specific morbidity and mortality disparities and consequences of inadequate African-American participation in clinical trials.
Strongly recommends that clinical trials be adequately designed and powered to demonstrate safety and efficacy in African-Americans.
It is important to note that proportional population representation is an inadequate method of assessing safety and efficacy in a specific patient population.
Recommends that race and ethnicity be a retrievable query in all health-related databases.
Advocates for a clearer definition of disease characteristics in African-Americans, through basic science and clinical studies.
Project IMPACT’s goal is to increase awareness, knowledge and participation of African American physicians and consumers in all aspects of biomedical research and clinical trials.
Contacts
Michael A. LeNoir, M.D.
Principal Investigator
Yolanda A. Fleming
Project Director
National Medical Association
1012 10th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-4492
202/347-1895, ext 261
202/371-1162
We want to hear from you. Please send us your comments, suggestions and critique.
CONSUMERS
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PHYSICIANS
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RESOURCE
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FEEDBACK
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CONTACTS
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