Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) champions: Lessons learned and implications for future programming to support cancer clinical trials.

e18529 Background: Improving diversity and representativeness in SWOG Cancer Research Network (SWOG) clinical trials is critical for addressing disparities in prevention, detection, treatment, supportive care, and mortality among patients with cancer diagnosis. Understanding the needs of underrepresented groups (URGs) and building relationships and trust between these populations and researchers can help overcome barriers to study recruitment. SWOG developed a formal organization structure to provide evidence-based guidance for increasing diverse representation in SWOG research. Methods: Funded through a grant from Genentech and the Hope Foundation, SWOG developed a methodology and field guide to improve representativeness in clinical trials. This methodology includes analyzing the current clinical trial portfolio, reviewing study sites and inclusion/exclusion criteria, refining protocol and accrual plans to be more inclusive, implementing changes, and sharing findings with study teams and communities. Five DEI Champions were selected to work with 5 research committees including Gastrointestinal, Lung, Breast, and Genitourinary Cancers and Multiple Myeloma to identify action plans. The Champions provided tools, evidence, and strategies to implement SWOG’s DEI methodology, provided countermeasures for studies not meeting prespecified enrollment benchmarks, and analyzed and reported participation across the SWOG clinical trial portfolio. Champions, study teams, and committees all implemented strategies and structure for research program modifications and policies. Results: Four of the 5 research committees showed significant improvements in infrastructure and implementation of DEI. Factors that improved DEI within SWOG research committees included a willingness of the committee to engage in DEI work; the infrastructure in place to support the implementation of DEI; the tumor sites being studied, and cross-committee collaborations on research protocols (Veterans, Patient Advocacy, Recruitment & Retention, and Palliative & Support Care). Conclusions: The DEI Champion role is an important strategy that engages cancer researchers and staff in DEI improvement activities and improves infrastructure and recruitment of URGs to clinical trials. Further research is needed to determine the impact of DEI champions on cancer clinical trial participation.