TRILATERAL

Triangulated approach to include rural regions in international clinical trials on dementia to achieve a higher level of diversity and inclusion in scientific projects

The limited diversity in clinical trials makes the transferability of their results difficult, especially for non-white populations. Initiatives such as EDI guidelines and the Early-Career Advisory Group (ECAG) aim to help close this gap, but rural regions remain underrepresented.

While rural participants in the US are often more represented than their population share would suggest, there is a lack of data in the Global South due to a lack of research infrastructure. These challenges are particularly serious in dementia research, as social isolation, the burden of care and underdiagnosis make the situation even more difficult. Interdisciplinary approaches and new concepts are therefore to be discussed in the TRILATERAL project in order to sustainably improve diversity in research.

The workshops in the project aim to develop a methodological and interdisciplinary approach to strengthen rural regions and facilitate their future participation in clinical trials with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Organisational requirements, training procedures and sustainability concepts will be outlined, with a focus on regions in the Global South, but also including rural areas in Germany and Europe.