Abstract 625: Partnering with the community to evaluate policies that regulate cancer clinical trial practice at Henry Ford Health to make it accessible for the Black/African American community in Detroit
Authors: Lisa Lange, Donna Harris, Martina Caldwell, Linda Kaljee, Ali Haythem, Sophia Chue, Valerie Ofori Aboah, Harriet Larrious-Lartey, Sylvester Antwi, Eleanor Walker, Dominique Bragg, Jorge Chinea, Danielle Nelson, Camille Romain, Denise White-Perkins, Evelyn M. Jiagge
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Background: Within communities of color, traditional approaches to research have often not benefited and sometimes actually harmed the participants, resulting in a distrust of and reluctance to get involved in clinical trials. The participation of the Black/African American population in clinical trials is essential to develop globally applicable curative, life-extending, life-enhancing cancer therapies using patient centric approaches. The proposed project builds on our Participatory Action for Access to Clinical Trials (PAACT) project which focused on systemic, clinical, and community barriers to Black/African American participation in cancer clinical trials. The proposed project is designed to concurrently address health system policies and programs that affect community engagement, cancer clinical care, and clinical trials. Method: We documented and assessed the current Henry Ford Health (HFH) policies that govern community engagement, cancer care, and cancer clinical research at Henry Ford Cancer Institute (HFCI). Six main levels of policies were assessed. These include: (1) Cancer clinical trial review processes to determine if the trials are scientifically sound and can be conducted at HFH; (2) Cancer Clinical and Translational Research Office (CCTRO); (3) Feasibility Review Committee (FRC); (4) Scientific Review Committee (SRC); (5) Research Administration; and, (6) Internal &amp; External Institutional Review Boards (IRB). We then engaged with the project Steering Committee consisting of community stakeholders from ten community organizations, other community members, and HFH/HFCI leadership to evaluate the policies and make recommendations for the development of interventions to make the process more acceptable to Black/African American communities. Results: The interventions that were recommended by the steering committee were put into six categories: (1) Seat at the Table: Valuing People Over the Project; (2) Enhanced Participant Recruitment Approaches; (3) Monitoring Racial/Ethnic Representation at Monthly Clinical Trial Review Meetings; (4) Patient-Centered Informed Consent; (5) Respectful Monetary Incentives for Clinical Trial Participants; (6) Recognition of Healthcare Providers’ Time and Effort. We are in the process now of prioritizing and piloting these interventions at HFH. Conclusion: To increase the participation of Black/African Americans in cancer clinical trials, we need to not only focus on patient and community level interventions ideally, but, there is the need to evaluate the institutional policies that make the process acceptable to the patients. Citation Format: Lisa Lange, Donna Harris, Martina Caldwell, Linda Kaljee, Ali Haythem, Sophia Chue, Valerie Ofori Aboah, Harriet Larrious-Lartey, Sylvester Antwi, Eleanor Walker, Dominique Bragg, Jorge Chinea, Danielle Nelson, Camille Romain, Denise White-Perkins, Evelyn M. Jiagge. Partnering with the community to evaluate policies that regulate cancer clinical trial practice at Henry Ford Health to make it accessible for the Black/African American community in Detroit [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 625.