Penta is thrilled to announce the launch of READI (Research in Europe and Diversity Inclusion), a new project funded by the Innovative Health Initiative, aiming to promote a comprehensively inclusive ecosystem for clinical studies in Europe.
Underserved and underrepresented populations in Europe, including ethnic minorities, older people and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, are often excluded from clinical studies. This exclusion creates significant gaps in our knowledge and understanding of diseases, limits the generalisability of research findings and restricts access to innovative health technologies for those who need them most.
The READI project is poised to address these barriers. Its mission is to increase the participation of these groups, ensuring they are represented and placed at the heart of the clinical research ecosystem throughout Europe.
Penta will play a crucial role in the project, bridging gaps between stakeholders, ensuring the effective implementation of tools and strategies for inclusion developed by the Consortium, and evaluating the real-world impact of these approaches in studies, all while prioritising the needs of children, pregnant people and diverse populations in research.
Thanks to our extensive experience in building global partnerships with clinical sites, engaging underserved communities and developing training programmes tailored to diverse populations, particularly in infectious diseases in children and in pregnancy, Penta is uniquely positioned to advance health equity in European clinical research.
Over the next six years, Penta will collaborate with a multidisciplinary consortium of 73 organisations from 18 countries, coordinated by SERMAS (Servicio Madrileño de Salud) through Hospital Universitario La Paz in Spain, Novartis in Switzerland, and supported by The Synergist in Belgium. Together, this public-private partnership aims to promote equitable healthcare access, reduce health disparities and elevate the quality of research.