Senators Kim and Collins, with Reps. Kelly and Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Increase Diversity in Clinical Trials

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. SenatorsAndy Kim (D-NJ)andSusan Collins (R-ME)introduced the bipartisan and bicameralNIH Clinical Trial Integrity Actto increase the diversity of participants in clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health. This bill is also being introduced in the House of Representatives led by U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
“We have a responsibility to ensure Americans of all backgrounds have fair and equal access to treatment and care. This needs to begin with fair and equal representation in the earliest stages of health research and testing, including clinical trials. I hope we can come together to use this legislation as a tool to combat dangerous and persistent health inequities that are putting communities of color and diverse backgrounds at-risk,”said Senator Kim.
“Biomedical research holds tremendous promise for treating many of the most costly and devastating diseases we face. To ensure that the benefits of cutting-edge medical science reach all Americans, it is important that participants in clinical trials reflect our overall population,”said Senator Collins.“By encouraging long-term planning and improving demographic representation in clinical studies, this bipartisan legislation would help enhance the effectiveness of critical research that is conducted and sponsored by the NIH.”
“When people are excluded from clinical trials, they are also excluded from treatments for chronic diseases. The data clearly lays out the fact that historically marginalized communities disproportionately suffer from certain illnesses and diseases – but we are excluded from clinical trials,”said Representative Kelly, Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust.“I’m proud to work with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to ensure better representation in our clinical trials. No one should be left behind in the pursuit of medical breakthroughs.”
“Medical breakthroughs are only as strong as the data behind them—and data that excludes entire communities is incomplete by definition. The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act strengthens the integrity of our research by ensuring clinical trials reflect the full diversity of the patients they are meant to serve. This bipartisan, bicameral effort is about inclusion, accountability, and better science—so that lifesaving treatments work for everyone,”said Representative Fitzpatrick.
The NIH Clinical Trial Integrity Act would:
The bill has been endorsed by the Association of Black Cardiologists, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, Blood Cancer United, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Psychological Association, National Organizations for Rare Disease (NORD), TOUCH: The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Doctors for America.
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