• Promoting diversity in clinical trials helps ensure that new drugs, devices or treatments are safe and effective for more patients.
• People from racial and ethnic and minority groups, rural communities, and other groups have historically been underrepresented in clinical research.
• Providence is working to change that by bringing cutting-edge clinical research to patients across our seven-state footprint.

Clinical trials are research studies that determine if a new drug, device, or treatment is safe and effective for people to use. Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients who will use the medical products and treatments. However, people from racial and ethnic minority groups and others, such as rural communities, have historically been underrepresented in clinical research.

Providence is working to change that. Our broad commitment to improving health equity, access and representation in research is reflected in the efforts of many dedicated caregivers, researchers, study coordinators, and others working to bring clinical research to patients across our seven-state footprint. This work is vital to our goal of providing equitable healthcare for all, and its importance is further underscored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s initiatives to encourage diversity in clinical trials. 

Read on for two examples of how, together with our industry partners and patients, we’re making the latest trials available to more people who could benefit from them. 

Small research sites band together to bring big industry trials to communities in Washington State

In 2023, Providence caregivers from two rural Western Washington communities joined forces to demonstrate how small and mid-sized sites can collaborate to bring major trials to rural communities. This collaboration between Providence Regional Cancer System in Lacey and Providence Saint Mary Regional Cancer Center in Walla Walla exemplifies what’s possible when our teams come together to make clinical research available for their communities.

Led by principal investigator Dr. Xingwei D. Sui and with support from the Providence Office of Research Administration, the group’s first study enrolled 32 patients, overcoming several obstacles along the way and setting the stage for future collaboration. Their efforts helped pave the way for nationwide clinical use of OncoPrism, a test used to guide treatment decisions for patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma. 

By banding together, these dedicated researchers and caregivers are improving access to cutting-edge clinical trials for all.   

"Innovation and collaboration are critical to achieving excellence in clinical trials research, especially for smaller research sites that may lack the volume of patients needed to attract and participate in industry trials" – Cheryl Krantz, Interim Manager of Southeastern Washington Clinical Trials and Research

Bringing leading-edge cardiovascular research to rural communities

The Missoula, Montana-based Providence Heart Institute Structural Heart Program at Saint Patrick’s Hospital is one of the few research centers in Western Montana and the state’s only cardiovascular clinical trial center. The site's participation in the APOLLO clinical trial, aims to give patients across rural Montana access to a new treatment for mitral valve regurgitation. That’s particularly important for patients who are not eligible for surgery, including those in remote areas who may have trouble getting to the hospital for follow-up. 

This hospital-based research program brings together clinical trials, basic research, and collaboration with the University of Montana. It’s just one way that Providence can provide a highly specialized level of medicine for patients, wherever they are.

Daniel Spoon, MD, explains that “without research like this, patients in Montana won’t have the opportunities for cutting-edge devices and therapies that are available at larger academic centers in bigger cities.” 

Related Resources

• Search for clinical trials at Providence: research.providence.org/clinical-trials/
• News story: Bringing world-class procedures to remote patients 
• FDA Guidance: Diversity plans to improve enrollment of participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials guidance for industry