Patient-focused evAluatioN Of dispaRities AMong pArticipants enrolled into PRecision Oncology studies (PANORAMA-PRO)

Ensuring equity in cancer research by improving access and treatments for diverse communities

A team of researchers from Toronto and Montreal are working to address disparities in access to cancer research initiatives thanks to new funding from the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network’s Patient Voice in Research Initiative.

Over the next year, the team will receive $151,500 to run a study called PANORAMA-PRO, led by experts at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network in Toronto. The team will use this funding to examine who participates in cancer research and what barriers are faced by underrepresented groups to enter these types of trials. Their ultimate goal is to make clinical trials more inclusive, ensuring all patients, regardless of their background, can benefit from precision medicine and the latest cancer treatments.

Read our Q&A with the research team to learn more about the project.

How would you describe your project to a lay audience?

The PANORAMA-PRO project aims to ensure that all patients, regardless of their background, have equal access to cancer research and new treatments. Most cancer genetics studies have focused on people of European descent, leading to gaps in treatment for other groups like Black, Indigenous or Asian patients. By examining who participates in cancer research studies and listening to patients’ experiences, we hope to address barriers to their participation like language, finances or lack of information. Ultimately, we aim to make cancer research more inclusive, benefiting all patients.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of the project? 

By the end of the project, we will collect detailed data on the sociodemographic backgrounds of cancer patients participating in precision oncology research, identifying any underrepresented groups. We will also gather patient insights on the barriers to clinical research participation. Using this data, we will develop strategies to make cancer research more inclusive and share our findings in a white paper with the broader research community to promote equity in clinical trials.

Why is this project important? How does it advance precision medicine for cancer? What potential impact could it have on patients?

This project is important because it addresses the lack of diversity in cancer research, which can result in treatments that are less effective for certain groups. PANORAMA-PRO aims to ensure precision medicine benefits all patients by including underrepresented populations in clinical trials. By identifying and addressing barriers to participation, this project will make research more inclusive, improving the relevance and effectiveness of future treatments for diverse communities.

This funding opportunity was designed and adjudicated by members of the Network’s Patient Working Group, who are all cancer patients and survivors or caregivers and family members. Why do you think it’s important for the Network to fund this type of patient-centric research? Have you ever encountered a funding opportunity like this before?

Funding patient-centric research is crucial because it centres the real-world experiences and challenges faced by patients in the research process. This unique funding opportunity involves patients directly in shaping the research from the start, ensuring the results are relevant and impactful. Unlike traditional funding mechanisms, this approach prioritizes patient input at every stage, making the outcomes more meaningful and inclusive.