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Cancer Advocacy Group Backs State Legislation Enhancing Diversity in Clinical Trials
Cancer Advocates Urge the Senate to Follow the House’s Lead Ensuring More Diversity in Clinical Trials.
April 19, 2024
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois House passed House Bill 5405 this afternoon, improving access and diversity in clinical trials.
The following is a statement from Ally Lopshire, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Illinois:
"To reduce the burden of cancer in Illinois, ACS CAN supports legislation that will improve diversity and reduce barriers to clinical trials, which are essential in the fight against cancer. At present, clinical trials often suffer from a lack of diversity, with underrepresentation of certain demographic groups such as minorities, women, and older adults. This disparity not only hampers the relevance of study findings but also perpetuates health care inequities, as treatments may not be equally effective across diverse populations.
“Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer -- regardless of race, ethnicity, income, gender, sexual orientation or zip code.
“ACS CAN thanks Rep. Marcus Evans for championing this effort and the Illinois House for approving this legislation. We urge the Senate to quickly follow suit and take this significant step towards improving health outcomes."
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