Advancing Diversity and Inclusion of Underrepresented Groups in Global Clinical Trials

Availability of safe and effective treatments for Alzheimer disease is an urgent challenge given the global shift toward an older population and increased risk of cognitive decline and impaired decision-making ability as people age. Dementia-related burdens are disproportionately felt within underdeveloped countries, as they are faced with growingly more prevalent risk factors for cognitive impairment, more barriers to diagnosis, and less access to care.

Leveraging a novel and comprehensive global database of clinical trials that include all drug trials for Alzheimer disease drugs (1980-2025), this project will evaluate 1) the trend of inclusion of under-developed countries and their minoritized groups over the past decades to monitor any progress made worldwide. The findings will help form more effective public policy to address health disparities and inequities in pharmaceutical R&D. Through this project, the identified research assistants will engage in highly innovative and interdisciplinary teamwork and publish exciting research findings.