SPRINGFIELD, IL – Today, the state legislature passed House Bill 5405, improving access and diversity in clinical trials, which can be a game changer in the fight against cancer.
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, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) supported 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 and Sen. Julie Morrison for championing this effort. ACS CAN looks forward to seeing Gov. Pritzker sign this legislation into law so Illinois can take this significant step towards improving health outcomes."