The online program offered organizations the opportunity to share educational health and clinical research information directly to diverse patient communities and the general public.
LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) November 20, 2020
Progress in medical science would be delayed were it not for the people volunteering their time and energy to be part of clinical trials. The AWARE for All - Los Angeles webinar aimed to raise awareness of the importance of clinical research and participation.
The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) invited the Los Angeles community to attend AWARE for All - Los Angeles, a free educational webinar on Wednesday, November 18th, 4-6pm PDT via a customized, secure online platform. Viewers learned about the clinical research process, how clinical trials work, and what to expect as a study participant. The webinar included a lively, facilitated conversation with patients, researchers and healthcare professionals after an overview presentation given by Dr. Jonathan Jackson, Ph.D., Director of Community Access, Recruitment, and Engagement (CARE) Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School. Two health exercises were part of the online program—Memory/Brian Health offered by Alzheimer’s Los Angeles and Reiki offered by WESpark Cancer Support Center.
Dr Leanne Burnham of City of Hope shared her thoughts on certain factors that contribute to a positive study experience, such as trust in the institution, the team and when there is that patient-physician match and language matched materials that can help study participants feel more comfortable.
Tomma Hargraves is a clinical trial participant and credits her participation with surviving Stage 3 lung cancer 14 years ago. Since then, she has participated in other clinical trials and serves as a patient liaison helping others navigate clinical trials.
CISCRP’s AWARE for All – Los Angeles program is supported by local research teams, advocacy groups, and a consortium of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and service provider organizations. The online program offered organizations the opportunity to share educational health and clinical research information directly to diverse patient communities and the general public.
A virtual health fair with local and national health and wellness organizations providing educational resources was also part of the platform, including a movie theatre experience with brief videos about clinical research.
For many clinical research participants, the decision to join a study is empowering and a way to take more control of their healthcare. The AWARE for All program emphasized the stringent ethical criteria that regulate clinical trials and protect patients who are enrolled as well as the opportunities clinical research provides to scale health equities globally.
AWARE for All – Los Angeles Clinical Research Webinar was held Wednesday, November 18th, from 4-6pm PDT. Attendance was free, but pre-registration was required. To learn more, visit awareforall.org or call 877-633-4376.
The AWARE for All – Los Angeles supporters include Allergy & Asthma Network, City of Hope, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, PALS for Health, Alzheimer’s LA, Debbie’s Dream Foundation, Alliance for a Better Community, Being Alive LA, WeSPARK Cancer Support Center, Providence Clinical Research, Peer Plus, and the AWARE Industry Consortium.
About CISCRP
The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the public and patients as partners in the clinical research process. CISCRP provides free education and outreach to the general public and patient communities. Visit http://www.CISCRP.org for more information or to participate in CISCRP’s educational initiatives. For additional questions about AWARE for All, contact awareforall@ciscrp.org or call 877-633-4376.