SCOPE Summit 2026 Panel Discussion: Diversity in Clinical Trials—What’s Working, What’s Next

This year’s annual SCOPE Summit in Orlando, FL has brought many important themes to the discussion table such as technology, implementation, and efficiency. The conference’s opening keynote panel on Tuesday, February 3 set the tone by focusing on radical acceleration in clinical research.

But where does all of this technology and efficiency fit into improving diversity, equity, and inclusion? Another panel on the second full day of SCOPE moderated by Bianca Green, clinical program diversity head, UCB, focused on just that plus what’s next for diversity in clinical trials.

Green was joined by Angel Akinbinu, director, trial equity & representation, Takeda; Natanya Candelario, senior director, inclusive research, Bristol Myers Squibb; Neha Shah Londono, director, clinical trial diversity and community engagement lead, Pfizer; and Laurie Myers, senior director, health literacy strategy & innovation, Merck.

Strategies for improving diversity

The discussion started off with the biggest changes the panel members had made to improve diversity in their trials.

Akinbinu said. “I've been in this space—a dedicated clinical trial diversity space—for the last six years, community engagement has been a buzzword that whole time, but it's really leaning into it. What I mean by that is not just the digital campaigns—even though that's great and there's a place for it—but really, boots on the ground, actually showing up in communities.”

What hasn’t been working?

While the panel members shared many great changes they’ve made such as being more involved in communities, improving health literacy, and choosing more diverse sites, the discussion shifted toward what hasn’t been working for the industry.

Myers shared a powerful thought that people have become afraid of talking about diversity.

“We have to stop that,” she continued. “Scientific excellence depends on making sure that the people who are most in need of our medicines and vaccines are represented adequately in our clinical trials. I think in the current environment, there are people who are afraid to ask questions, people who are afraid to be part of this. It really is incumbent upon all of us to continue to have those conversations.”

Reaching communities where they are

As mentioned earlier, a common theme throughout the entirety of this discussion was how to effectively reach diverse communities. It is important to recognize that each community is unique, and companies must be flexible when approaching them.

“The one thing that I learned over the past years, we really have to listen, and we have to understand exactly what is needed for every community and for every study,” Green said. “You have to be nimble, and you have to be able to customize the solutions that you come up with, and companies have to be okay with that.”

Candelario added that BMS is actively working on recognizing new sites that haven’t yet had the chance to conduct research due to a lack of training or resources.

“I think there's an opportunity in that light, not just for sponsors to consider providing guidance or investing in those trial-naive sites, but then also recognizing that the community needs to be part of this conversation,” she said.

Final thoughts for future success

As the conversation concluded, the panelists shared more ideas that the audience could bring back with them to their own companies.

Londono encouraged the industry to think more broadly.

“We have to really force ourselves to think about this holistically and have that opportunity to reach multiple folks that are all impacted by the diseases we're studying,” she concluded.

Source

Green B, Akinbinu A, Candelario N, Londono N, Myers, L. Diversity in Clinical Trials—What’s Working, What’s Next. SCOPE Summit 2026. February 4, 2026.