Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), seeks to improve Black patient participation in cancer clinical trials through its Health Equity Initiative.

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(NAPSMI)–Overall, cancer deaths in America have fallen in the last several decades, but not everyone has benefited equally from advances in cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Black people have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the United States for most forms of cancer. Additionally, FDA data show that only 4 percent of cancer clinical trial participants are Black.

That’s why Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), a major funder of cancer research, created its Health Equity Initiative. The initiative aims to increase minority representation in cancer clinical trials and ensure new cancer treatments are effective for all. 

“As one of the leading funders of cancer research, we believe it is our duty to ensure that minority representation in cancer clinical trials is addressed,” explained SU2C CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN. “Now, more than ever, better understanding of the role of biology in cancer treatment, advances in precision treatment and development of new technologies demands that we also make significant improvements in diverse clinical trial participation.” 

SU2C is collaborating with a number of industry leaders who are also committed to improving cancer disparities. Funding from these donors supports SU2C’s Health Equity Initiative, including cancer screening and clinical trial awareness efforts as well as research into specific types of cancers that disproportionately impact people of color. 

Another collaboration with the Black Women’s Health Imperative and Friends of Cancer Research is Project TEACH, which will empower Black women to effectively engage with researchers and clinicians as well as increase participation of Black women in cancer-focused clinical trials. 

“Ensuring that patients of color have the same access to screening, testing and treatment, including clinical trials, is critical to addressing some of the longstanding inequities we’ve seen in cancer care,” said Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, executive director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance and member of SU2C’s Health Equity Committee. 

For further facts and stats about Stand Up To Cancer, go to www.StandUpToCancer.org.