Zahra Ramji: The unique challenges of conducting clinical trials in low and middle-income countries

Zahra Ramji, Co-founder of MedInsights Unleashed, shared a post on LinkedIn by MedInsights Unleashed, adding:

“John Collins MBA and I had an insightful discussion with Elen Baloyan from OncoDaily on the unique challenges of conducting clinical trials in low and middle-income countries, specifically Armenia.

Elen Baloyan’s dedication to her field and courageous strides in oncology research is a testament to the power of perseverance and collaborative efforts in advancing global healthcare.”

Quoting MedInsights Unleashed’s post:

“News Alert – New Episode: Breaking Financial Barriers: Bringing Hope to Cancer Patients in Armenia Through Clinical Trials

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Elen Baloyan, MD, an Oncology Fellow at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center in Yerevan, Armenia and Managing Editor of OncoDaily.

Dr. Baloyan shares her journey in cancer treatment in Armenia, where she also serves as project coordinator at the Immuno-Oncology Research Institute. Her groundbreaking research has gained international attention, and she is the first Armenian to present at the ASCO 2024 conference.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. Clinical Trial Challenges: Dr. Baloyan discusses the complexities of conducting clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries and the need for better support.
2. Financial Burdens: Cancer care costs in Armenia often lead to unaffordable treatments and delayed care for many patients.
3. Healthcare Access Disparity: Urban-rural healthcare gaps result in delayed diagnoses and care for rural patients.
4. Mentorship’s Role: Dr. Baloyan highlights mentorship’s importance in oncology, as mentors offer crucial guidance beyond online resources.
5. Global Clinical Trial Disparities: Her research shows limited involvement of low- and middle-income countries in immunotherapy trials due to an increased number of barriers.

Listen Now: Join us in exploring these advancements by tuning into the episode or through your favorite podcast platform.

Our next episode will delve into ‘Navigating Breast Cancer for the Newly Diagnosed Patient.’ Our guest is Dr. Christine Simmons, MD, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC (University of British Columbia), who specializes in breast cancer and sarcoma.

Repost as this information it is essential for healthcare professionals, researchers, patients and anyone dedicated to improving cancer treatment and patient care.

Reminder: As always, the content of our podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for personal medical guidance

Thank you for your continued support, The MedInsights Unleashed Team.”

For more posts like this, visit oncodaily.com.

Elen Baloyan is the Managing Editor of OncoDaily, Project Coordinator at the Immune Oncology Research Institute, and a Medical Oncology Fellow at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, YSMU. Her research focuses on gastrointestinal, lung, and brain cancers, immune-oncology, and improving healthcare access in LMICs.

A member of ASCO, ESMO, and ESO, Elen presented at the ASCO 2024 Annual Meeting on disparities in immune-oncology trials. She is also a co-investigator for the IMMONC008 clinical trial launched in May 2024.