Improving Access to Genomics-Based Trials Through Patient Education

Improving equitable access to genomics-based clinical trials remains a critical priority in cancer care, according to Dr. Nadine A. Jackson, a senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

CURE sat down for a live interview with Jackson at the 2026 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium to discuss interim findings from her team’s study examining patient education, language concordance, and navigation as tools to improve consent rates for genomic testing.

In the interview, Jackson emphasized that the research underscores how relatively simple interventions may help close longstanding gaps in access to genomics-driven trials.

Transcript

Can you describe your research into supporting representation in genomics-based clinical trial enrollment?

This weekend, we presented interim findings from our study. Our goal was to share that about 36 patients responded [to our research] regarding their understanding of genomic testing and clinical trials, and they shared that they have a fairly good understanding of those tests. Around 70% of them said they are aware of genomic testing, and they are ready to engage in it. We know in our experience, only one in two patients, maybe, will consent to genomic testing. Given that most of our trials are dependent on this information, not having this information early in a diagnosis could be quite damaging for patients and leave some without opportunities to get options for treatment for their cancer.

We presented data showing that by educating patients using a video, which is a quite simple tool concordant with their primary language (it was provided in seven different languages) and also providing a navigator for a subset of patients, most of our patients (62%, which is much higher than before) were able to consent to genomic testing. This navigator is someone who is at their elbow, available to assist them, to answer questions about genomic testing, and also to coach them once those results are available on how to discuss those findings with their doctor and the opportunities those findings create for clinical trials.

Consequently, we are putting patients in a better position to be able to participate in clinical trials in the future because they have the results that will be needed by their doctors to make those decisions with them.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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