Minssen moderated a panel discussion at the conference.
Event description:
The same medicine may have different effects on different people. Representation of different populations such as elderly, pregnant women, children and ethnic groups are important in clinical trials to ensure safe and effective medicines for all. If there is not diversity in the test-population for a medicinal product, we know less about how it will work in practice, where patients will be diverse. This entails a higher risk of adverse effects or no effect at all. Data driven paradigms of healthcare such as precision medicine, stresses the importance of representation, where a lack of representation in clinical trials may result in critical biases in healthcare in the future.

Representation does not come easy and lack of representation may be a conscious and justified choice, due to for example ethical, scientific and practical considerations. Representation must be balanced against e.g. ensuring sound data and the protection of vulnerable populations.

This conference will bring together researchers from law, ethics and social sciences and stakeholders from public authorities, healthcare providers, industry and patient organizations to share knowledge, experiences and concerns on the development of representative clinical trials.