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Abhijit Pal: Evaluating Patient Diversity in Early Phase Clinical Trials in Australia

FDA Oncology/X

Jun 17, 2025, 08:16

Abhijit Pal: Evaluating Patient Diversity in Early Phase Clinical Trials in Australia

Abhijit Pal, Medical Oncologist at South Western Sydney Local Health District, posted on LinkedIn:

“Very excited to share our recent publication in JNCI Cancer Spectrum – “Evaluating patient diversity in early phase clinical trials in Australia through a prospective multicenter nonrandomized cohort study”

This study representing 2 years of work, wonderfully lead by Dr Udit Nindra and conducted across two Phase 1 units in Sydney (Liverpool and Scientia – thank you Christina Teng, Charlotte Lemech Joe Wei), was the first of its kind in terms of looking at careful demographic data collection for those patients who successfully enroll into early phase cancer clinical trials.

We know “CALD” is not fit for purpose but what is better?

An ambitious, proof of principle, project to demonstrate that quantifying intersectionality in clinical trials is possible – we captured proficiency in English, country of birth of parents (we know there is difference in healthcare access between newly arrived migrants and second generation children of migrants) and socioeconomic class in this group of cancer clinical trials – along with less commonly captured (or reported) data points in clinical trials such as indigeneity, social isolation and self reported sexuality.

TLDR – early phase clinical trial participation remains a “luxury” cancer product that are more accessible to certain groups in the Australian community and ongoing efforts required to understand barriers and enablers to trial participation to achieve equitable and inclusive representation. Reporting is the first step and being more specific and intentional about the way we capture demographic data.

114 participants, 2 Sydney centres, August 23 – August 24.
30% culturally diverse, 25% linguistically diverse – however, English preferred language in 87% of participants.
Only 1 participant identified as Indigenous Australian.
6/125 required an interpreter during the consent process.”

Title: Evaluating patient diversity in early phase clinical trials in Australia through a prospective multicenter nonrandomized cohort study

Authors: Udit Nindra, Joanne Tang, Jun Hee Hong, Martin Hong, Christina Teng, Joe Wei, Andrew Killen, Adam Cooper, Kate Wilkinson, Weng Ng, Charlotte Lemech, Wei Chua, Abhijit Pal

Read The Full Article at JNCI.

Abhijit Pal: Evaluating Patient Diversity in Early Phase Clinical Trials in Australia

Abhijit Pal Adam Cooper Andrew Killen cancer Charlotte Lemech Christina Teng clinical trial JNCI Cancer Spectrum Joanne Tang Joe Wei Jun Hee Hong Kate Wilkinson Martin Hong OncoDaily Oncology Udit Nindra Wei Chua Weng Ng

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