Racial Bias in Science and Medicine // Who’s Included?

There is ample evidence that race can be a major factor in health outcomes. But racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in clinical and biomedical research. What are the consequences of this underrepresentation? What does it mean for equity in research and medicine?

[carolynschatzel]

I think what is also notable is that if genetics play an important role in understanding an individual’s response to a drug, or any chemical administered to the body, do we have a solid understanding of genetics in the first place? Epigenetics was essentially rejected by mainstream science for almost 3 decades. The genes and the genes expression are not fixed but dictated largely by environmental factors. How can all of these factors be controlled when testing drug trials? Factors such as trauma have a long term effect on the chemistry and physiology of the body. A bigger question I have is why are we still relying on testing reactions of populations when there’s evidence that all individuals react differently, or uniquely, to certain treatments? One size medicine does not fit all. This was a great short video that has left me thinking!

[crosbynashbobbie]

Thank you for this. A great resource for my High School Biology class for our Bioethics unit!