Diverse Patient Participation: Overcoming Barriers in Site-Based and Decentralized Studies

Diversity in clinical trial data is more important than ever, yet cultural differences in health behaviors, communication styles and attitudes toward research participation continue to create significant barriers to inclusive enrollment. Historical underrepresentation, compounded by limited infrastructure in some regions, exacerbates these challenges, risking the exclusion of critical insights and correlations that could improve research outcomes. As the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now emphasizes diversity planning in protocol development and study execution, it is essential for clinical research professionals to prioritize inclusive recruitment and retention strategies.

In this webinar, the expert speakers will explore the evolving landscape of clinical trial recruitment. They will address key considerations for enhancing diversity in traditional site-based studies while providing actionable recommendations for hybrid and decentralized study designs.

Patient travel services play a pivotal role in ensuring that participants from diverse geographic locations and socioeconomic backgrounds can access trial sites, eliminating logistical barriers to participation. Attendees will gain insights on how to expand access, engage diverse populations and ensure that clinical trials better reflect the patients most impacted by research findings.

Register for this webinar to explore innovative strategies for improving patient participation and enhancing diversity in clinical trial recruitment and retention.

Speakers

Rita Yankyera, Assistant Medical Director, Elligo Health Research®

Rita Yankyera is a highly skilled Clinical Research Professional/Sub-Investigator with a rich background in healthcare. Originally from Ghana, West Africa, Rita obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana before pursuing her Masters in Science (Family Nurse Practitioner) degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

With over 10 years of experience in nursing and clinical trial/research, Rita has developed expertise and made significant contributions to the field through her work in various therapeutic areas, including nephrology and kidney transplantation, endocrinology, cardiology, rheumatology, dermatology, vaccines, and infectious diseases.

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Her extensive experience spans working with both adult and pediatric patients from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Rita is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC), demonstrating her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and expertise in clinical research and further highlighting her dedication to advancing the field of clinical research and ensuring the highest quality of patient care.

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Leslie Carney, Patient Recruitment & Marketing, Elligo Health Research®

Leslie Carney, MBA, has over 20 years of consumer marketing, relationship management and sales experience, having started in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser before joining clinical research in 2017. Leslie joined Elligo in 2024 as Senior Director, Patient Solutions, and is leading the company’s initiative to maximize internal resources, align with strategic partners where needed and infuse patient-centricity into Elligo’s comprehensive efforts engaging with patients and sites to accelerate enrollment.

Prior to Elligo, Leslie was with CVS Clinical Trial Services, where she oversaw enrollment for a fully virtual asthma study and managed local, community-based recruitment for CVS Trial Delivery sites. She has managed recruitment for US sites as well as OUS projects directly for clients, focusing on digital marketing and partnerships to ensure high-volume and rapid enrollment goals are achieved.

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During her time at IQVIA, Leslie developed bespoke recruitment and retention strategies to remove barriers to enrollment and reduce burden on patients and sites for traditional site models as well as hybrid and fully virtual study designs.

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Chris Benevides, Patient Travel Services, Elligo Health Research®

Chris Benevides is an accomplished leader in the clinical trial space, specializing in patient travel, recruitment and retention efforts. With over 13 years of experience in driving market growth and customer value through innovative sales and marketing strategies, Chris has spent the last five years focused on clinical trials. His operational acumen, paired with a strong customer-centric approach, allows him to anticipate client needs and build long-lasting relationships with patients, sites, and other key stakeholders.

Chris’s therapeutic experience spans various areas, including neurology, pulmonology, rare diseases, pediatrics, and ophthalmology, with specific involvement in indications such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, wet AMD, schizophrenia, depression and acromegaly.

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He oversees all travel services at Elligo and manages an operational delivery team dedicated to ensuring patient satisfaction through seamless travel coordination and reimbursements. With a Master of Science in Marketing from Grenoble Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Chris brings a unique blend of operational, sales and marketing expertise to his role.

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