National Medical Association to Host Clinical Trials Community Meeting to Help Educate People of Color about Importance of Clinical Trials

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Apr 07, 2010, 04:47 ET

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Medical Association along with Old North State Medical Society and other Raleigh/Durham partners will host Partners in Health: Our Community Making a Difference in Medicine on Saturday, April 10th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The clinical trial forum will be moderated by Dr. Dudley Flood, the former Associate State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The panel includes an ethicist, researcher and clinical trial participants. Some of the issues that will be discussed include:

What is a clinical trial?
Reasons why African American participation is low
Critical role of clinical trials in therapies
Myths and truths
Resources for additional information
Why some people choose to participate in research studies.

African Americans are often underrepresented in clinical trials for many of the diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect them – hypertension, prostate cancer, diabetes. The opportunity to participate may not be available to them – either due to a lack of clinical trials sites in their community or a lack of available information about clinical trials. To ensure that everyone is included in clinical trials and knowledgeable about the subject, NMA created Project I.M.P.A.C.T. (Increase Minority Participation and Awareness of Clinical Trials).

The event is free. Registration, health screenings and exhibits begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by lunch and the forum will begin promptly at 12:00 noon. For more information or to register, please call 919/231-4478.

SOURCE National Medical Association