Quality Clinical Research (QCR, www.qcromaha.com)—an Omaha-originated medical research company that works with pharmaceutical companies to help develop their devices, medications, and vaccines—is part of the push to diversify pharmaceutical studies. As an industry, QCR understands the need to expand their reach and recruit people from all backgrounds, walks of life, races, and ethnicities.
Tricia Harrison, president of QCR, feels strongly that the population who is testing a particular medication should accurately represent the entire population it will serve.
“We’re working on diversity because most pharmaceutical studies typically have a white/Caucasian population, and we are trying to work to say ‘okay, let’s see how these medications act on different cultures’ so diversity needs to be there,” said Tricia. “Otherwise, these medications are getting prescribed to people they’ve never been tested on.”
QCR hopes to break the stigma about minorities and people of color when it comes to clinical research. It’s become common thinking for individuals in these groups that they aren’t good enough to be in clinical trials, and this is untrue. In fact, their participation is crucial because everyone reacts to medications in different ways. So, until QCR is able to study all ethnic backgrounds, there is no way to get the full scope of results and thoroughly measure the success of a particular medication.
At Quality Clinical Research, their efforts to rally a diverse population for clinical trials begins with hiring a diverse staff. In addition, QCR is going out into the community to reach different ethnic groups and educate them on how clinical trials work. There are currently several studies and trials in need of participants. To view these trials or learn about career opportunities with QCR, visit www.qcromaha.com.