3 Steps To Address Diversity In Clinical Trials By Ed Miseta, Chief Editor, Clinical Leader Follow Me On Twitter @EdClinical The COVID pandemic in 2020 brought to light the significant disparities that exist in healthcare. But those same disparities also exist in the way clinical trials are structured and conducted. White males are the primary participants in trials, while women, people of color, and the elderly are generally underrepresented. People of color make up 39% of the U.S. population but represent between 2% and 16% of patients in clinical trials. African Americans alone are about 12% of the U.S. population but make up just 5% of trial participants. Hispanics are about 16% of the population but only 1% of trial participants.