Henry Ford using $750,000 grant to increase minority representation in cancer clinical trials

Henry Ford aims to have more minorities participate in cancer clinical trials

The Henry Ford Cancer Institute wants to increase the number of minorities represented in its clinical trials by finding out what is important to them.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - It was January of 2017 when Darlene Jefferson was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I was doing a breast exam and felt a lump," Jefferson said.

Darlene Jefferson

Jefferson was determined to survive so she participated in a clinical trial dealing with radiation.

"Everything was positive to me," she said. "Everything was safe and everything worked out. Today, I am four years cancer-free. That’s the blessing to me."

But historically communities of color, including African Americans, shy away from clinical trials. Some point to the U.S government's unethical Tuskegee Syphilis Study on African Americans in the 1930s without their consent. This has led to apprehension for current-day medical research.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study has made some African Americans apprehensive toward clinical trials.

"Only about 2-5% of African American patients actually participate in cancer clinical trials," said Dr.Eleanor Walker, the director of Breast Radiation Oncology and medical director of Integrative Services at Henry Ford Hospital.

The Henry Ford Cancer Institute is working to increase minority representation in its cancer clinical trials thanks to the $750,000 Genentech grant.

"We’re working in conjunction with the University of Michigan, together to actually work with our community health workers, our church groups," Walker said.

Walker said they want to talk to patients and find out what is important to them.

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