Lack of diversity has been a longstanding shortcoming in health research. That lack has not only failed underrepresented groups in the past but also threatens the progress of medical science and the healthcare industry in the future. The Covid-19 pandemic spotlighted those disparities — with infection and death rates higher for certain racial and socioeconomic groups. In one study, for example, non-Hispanic Black people made up 34% of deaths from Covid-19 even though they made up only 12% of the population.
At the same time, the pandemic has shown how the medical research community could use technology to reduce such inequities. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in research is key to precision medicine. As Covid-19 sadly demonstrated, different populations are impacted differently by disease. Drugs and treatments also have different impacts on people, depending on genetic and other factors. Technology has an important role to play in identifying those differences and speeding precision treatments and drugs to market.
Read more at Forbes.
