Sheila Jackson Lee: “Just a few weeks ago, I had a roundtable discussion with health professionals and those who are suffering from diabetes.…”

“Just a few weeks ago, I had a roundtable discussion with health professionals and those who are suffering from diabetes. I heard the stories of how much insulin costs and how difficult it was to be able to access healthcare, in many instances. This discussion was held at the University of Houston medical school. The Jackson Lee amendment makes a good bill even better by providing $10 million more to help ensure that the national goals of finding and bringing more and better treatments for diabetes is aided by an expanded pool of diverse and talented medical researchers and clinical trial participants. Many racial health disparities, including diabetes, stem from a lack of access to quality healthcare and proper health awareness. Unfortunately, this means that the incidence of kidney disease has not always matched trial populations. African Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population but only 5 percent of clinical trial participants. {time} 1730 Hispanics make up 16 percent, but only 1 percent of clinical trial participants. Sex distribution in cardiovascular device trials is 67 percent male. Other significant barriers to diversified clinical trials, which are key to sound medical research and the foundation for medical cures and breakthroughs, as reported by investigators and coordinators, are insurance status, patient inconvenience, cost, availability of transportation, distance to the study site, and patient and family concerns about risk.…”