Expanding Access to Clinical Trials in San Francisco

Every year, Clinical Trials Day (May 20) recognizes the critical role research plays in advancing new treatments and improving lives. Clinical trials are how promising discoveries move from the lab to the clinic; but for many communities, access to these opportunities has not always been equal.

What are clinical trials?

Clinical trials are carefully designed research studies that test new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases. They are essential to developing new therapies, especially in areas like cancer, heart disease, and neurological conditions. Yet historically, many groups, including communities of color, older adults, and rural populations, have been underrepresented in clinical research. This lack of representation slows progress and widens health gaps.

The importance of equity and access

Equity in clinical trials is not just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of better science and better health outcomes for all people. When clinical trials include participants from diverse backgrounds, researchers can better understand how treatments affect different populations, leading to safer and more effective care for all.

How CIRM is making clinical trials more accessible

That’s where the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) plays a vital role. As a state agency created by the people of California to advance cell and gene therapies, CIRM is working to ensure that clinical trials are more accessible, inclusive, and patient-centered.

Through initiatives like its Alpha Clinic Network, CIRM supports leading medical centers across California in offering clinical trials. And through the Clinical Care Centers of Excellence located throughout the state CIRM is bringing cutting-edge clinical trials closer to where people live. These clinics are designed to reduce barriers to participation by offering coordinated care, streamlining access and reaching underserved communities. CIRM also funds programs that help researchers design trials with access in mind from the very beginning.

“Every day without a cure matters to patients and their families,” said Dr. Rosa Canet Avilés, Chief Science Officer at CIRM. “CIRM is breaking down barriers to care so more Californians can participate in clinical trials and gain access to life changing treatments.”

Finding a clinical trial

Across California, this work is already making an impact. In San Francisco, leading institutions such as UCSF are currently recruiting participants for clinical trials focused on conditions like Neurological Disorders and Cancer. These studies offer patients the opportunity to access innovative therapies while contributing to research that could benefit future generations.

Participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision, but awareness and community engagement help to make these opportunities accessible to more people.

This Clinical Trials Day, CIRM is proud of its commitment to making clinical research more inclusive and accessible for all Californians. By expanding access and prioritizing equity, we can help ensure that the future of medicine benefits everyone.

To learn more about clinical trials currently underway in San Francisco, please visit:
https://www.cirm.ca.gov/trials/