Episode: 27 - Yvonne Rodriguez on Making Clinical Trials Accessible for Everyone

The Scope of Things

In this episode of the Scope of Things, host Deborah Borfitz covers the latest news on an AI model for comparing drug effectiveness, adoption of minimal residual disease as an endpoint for multiple myeloma, using HIV treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, lack of diversity in Alzheimer’s trials, and more. Yvonne Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Egality Sciences, also joins the conversation to talk about breaking down the barriers to clinical research participation in underserved communities. She also delves into her personal story of what inspired her to start her company, how Egality Sciences is teaching physicians and staff at local hospitals to get and stay involved with industry-sponsored studies, and the challenges that need to be overcome to ensure that every patient has equal access to clinical trials as a treatment option.
SHOW NOTES

News Roundup

AI for predicting treatment outcomes

• Article in Patterns

Minimal residual disease as an endpoint

• FDA information package (multiple myeloma)

Window-of-opportunity clinical trials

• Ontario Institute for Cancer Research webpage

HIV treatments for Alzheimer’s?

• Proof-of-concept study in Pharmaceuticals

Implantable device for brain disorders

• Study published in Science Advances
• Motif Neurotech website

Lack of diversity in Alzheimer’s disease trials

• Study about differences in plasma biomarker eligibility

OMB’s updated race/ethnicity standards

• PDF of final recommendations

GUEST BIO

Yvonne Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Egality Sciences

Yvonne Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of Egality Sciences. Originally from Socorro, Texas, she started working on clinical trials after receiving her BBA from St. Mary’s University, in San Antonio, Texas. She brings over 20 years of clinical research industry experience having worked at clinical research sites, IRBs, CROs, and pharmaceutical and biomedical device companies. Prior to starting Egality Sciences, Yvonne worked at AstraZeneca and led projects in the DEI space that had successful results. Yvonne holds a Master’s of Science in Health Sciences from George Washington University, and has received a professional certificate from Oxford University.

The Scope of Things podcast explores clinical research and its possibilities, promise, and pitfalls. Clinical Research News senior writer, Deborah Borfitz, welcomes guests who are visionaries closest to the topics, but who can still see past their piece of the puzzle. Focusing on game-changing trends and out-of-the-box operational approaches in the clinical research field, the Scope of Things podcast is your no-nonsense, insider’s look at clinical research today.