Florence, South Carolina – The MUSC Florence Research Center, operating under MUSC Health-Florence, has been selected as one of four community-based clinical research sites across the Southeast to participate in the Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (EQBMED) initiative. This significant project aims to bridge the gap in clinical trial participation among people of color, especially those residing in rural areas.
Yale, Vanderbilt, and Morehouse are working together on the EQBMED initiative
The EQBMED initiative is a collaborative effort led by prestigious institutions including Yale, Vanderbilt, and Morehouse, and is supported by funding from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Its primary goal is to establish a clinical trial network that prioritizes inclusivity and accessibility for communities traditionally underrepresented in medical research.
Dr. Rami Zebian, Chief Medical Officer at MUSC, shared his enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting the importance of the selection due to the region’s diverse population. “We were chosen because we in the region have a diverse population, and there are a lot of folks that are from different backgrounds,” Zebian explained, as reported by WPDE, underscoring the significant presence of minority groups in the community and the critical need for access to clinical trials.
MUSC’s commitment to making clinical trials more accessible is evident in its plans to place trials within reach of the communities in Florence, Marion, and the Black River area. The initiative not only aims to test the efficacy of treatments through research but also looks forward to start therapeutic clinical trials, which could open up new ways to treat diseases that don’t respond to standard medicines.
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As MUSC embarks on this early stage of research, Dr. Zebian emphasized the importance of enrollment in ensuring the success of clinical trials.
“We have trials that will test certain things, that will tell us if certain treatments work. The next step that will be really impactful for our region is something called therapeutic clinical trials, and by therapeutic I mean treatment,” said Zebian. “So, if somebody has a disease that regular medicines are not working and we want access to new medication’s for the trial, then this grant will really help us.”
MUSC is currently in the early stages of research and is actively trying to get people enrolled.
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This is a big step toward making healthcare fairer and more open to everyone through the EQBMED program. By letting researchers, patients, communities, and trial sponsors help plan research studies, EQBMED hopes to create a new standard for clinical trials that is open to everyone and reflects the diverse world we live in.
