When It All Works: Case Studies for Success With Patient Diversity in Clinical Trials

(Moderator) Nicholas Kenny, Chief Scientific Officer, Syneos Health

With over 21 years of experience in clinical development and consulting, Nick Kenny is passionate about rapidly moving compelling new science for unmet medical needs through the development process to arrive at early and innovative decisions.  ​

Kenny has been with Syneos Health since 2006, where he grew and led the Oncology team until moving to the Chief Scientific Officer role in 2018, where he oversees the Medical Team for Syneos Health, the Consortia Models for e.g. Rare Diseases and Cell and Gene Therapies and is a leader on Governance for our Dynamic Assembly of cutting edge data assets.  He also serves as senior representative to the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) Steering Committee and Forum for Collaborative Research.​

A cancer survivor (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), Kenny spent his early career in biomedical research in the UK, US and Canada, and held a faculty appointment at the University of Vermont Medical School for several years. He is currently on the Board of Directors for Hospice of Wake County.

Lorena Kuri, Head, Diversity Strategy, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Born and raised in Mexico, Lorena is a people-oriented, active and sensitive change agent, currently leading BMS’s R&D efforts on Diversity in Clinical Trials. Her experience and transferable skills helped her change careers after more than 14 years in commercial roles, finding a match in clinical operations, and expanding the opportunity to help medically underserved populations. Lorena’s business acumen and customer focus have been key to demonstrate results, but more importantly to engage with key stakeholders. She holds a BA in International Business and a Master’s in Strategic Management and Human Capital. She believes in the value of connecting others and is proud of cultivating networks, helping whenever is needed.

She is an inclusion advocate and stands for what is right.

As a Latina, immigrant and a working mom, Lorena found a way to connect her purpose and power, and is trying to make it right leveraging her intersectionality and the roles she holds at organizations like WOCIP (Women of Color in Pharma), the RedShoeMovement and her hometown Diversity Committee in New Providence, NJ.

Warren Whyte, PhD, VP, Scientific Partnerships, ConcertAI

Warren is Vice President of Scientific Partnerships at ConcertAI, where he led the launch of Engaging Research to Achieve Cancer Care Equity (ERACE). The over-arching theme of his work is putting a spotlight on health disparities to promote health equality. The initiatives and partnerships formed under ERACE reaffirm his commitment to moving beyond descriptions of differences in cancer outcomes toward achievement of more equitable outcomes and making a meaningful difference in the lives of all patients. Prior to ConcertAI, White spent several years at Accenture, leading strategic delivery of data and analytics offerings for drug and medical device franchises across medical affairs, R&D and commercial functions. Before Accenture, he led research in target identification and cancer therapy at MIT. His work identifying super-enhancers, unique regions of DNA controlling cancer, was voted one of the year’s top scientific breakthroughs by the journal Cell, and facilitated the creation of Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SYRS), later named a FierceBiotech 2015 Fierce 15. Concurrent with these efforts, he also assisted a Cambridge, MA-based upstart in taking an unprecedented approach to drug delivery by helping design trials that tested the effectiveness of a nanoparticle drug delivery platform in treating solid tumors.

Diana Foster, PhD, VP, Strategy & Development, Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS)

Dr. Foster serves as a consultant to the Society for Clinical Research Sites as the Vice President of Strategy and Development. In her role she is responsible for building relationships with industry that help amplify the voice of the clinical research site.  Diana is a recognized expert in the intricacies of site management and an innovator in the use of strategic marketing and positioning tactics. Diana has designed and facilitated site management and patient recruitment trainings across the globe. While serving as president at DAC Patient Recruitment Services (formerly D. Anderson & Company), Diana led the organization through its evolution as a niche site management organization. Her early tenure as head of an SMO, Rheumatology Research International, also gave her a unique understanding of how sites operate and what they need to reach enrollment goals within targeted timelines.

Over the past two decades, Diana has addressed audiences across five continents, published multiple papers and articles, and written five authoritative industry books including “Global Issues in Patient Recruitment and Retention,” a sequel to “International Patient Recruitment: Regulatory Guidelines, Customs and Practices.” The books have served as teaching tools for colleges and universities, along with her earlier works: “A Guide to Patient Recruitment,” “A Guide to Patient Recruitment and Retention” and “50 Ways to Cope with Arthritis.” In addition, she has been a sought after speaker and given copious of presentations across the world.

Her personal honors include recognition by the Global EXEC Women’s International Council as an International Woman of Influence, being named a finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and an induction into the PharmaVOICE “100 Most Inspiring People in the Life-Sciences Industry.” She is among accomplished women around the globe who are changing the way international clinical trials are conducted.

Bassel Nazha, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology Emory-Winship Cancer Institute

Bassel Nazha, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Nazha joined the clinical staff at Winship Cancer Institute as a practicing physician in 2020. A board certified medical oncologist, he specializes in the treatment of genitourinary cancers.  Dr Nazha has published important findings on the critical need to include minority patients in oncology clinical trials, and (At ASCO) the disparity evident in minority access to the latest immunotherapy drugs as they advanced through clinical development.  At the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, Dr Bassel is part of an extensive team that has collaborated to significantly improve clinical trial access and representation for minorities, work that has been showcased at joint meetings of FDA and AACR.  Dr Nazha recently presented to the NCI Head & Neck Cancer task Force on the needs, and ways, to improve minority representation in cancer trials.

Dr. Nazha received his MD from the American University of Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed a clinical fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was Chief Fellow in his final year. His postgraduate medical education also included residency training at Staten Island University Hospital – Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in Staten Island, New York. Dr. Nazha received his MPH in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University in New York, New York.