Pamela K. Woodard, MD, FACR, Chair of the ACR Commission on Research, contributed this post.
As organized medicine works to increase health equity, two major American College of Radiology® (ACR®)-managed trials are among the most ethnically diverse studies ever performed and are flourishing after the COVID-19 non-urgent care shutdown.
TMIST Sets Record in Q4 2020
Since non-urgent care resumed July 1, the ACR-managed Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) has enrolled more participants than all other National Cancer Institute trials combined.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the holiday season, TMIST posted its three highest monthly enrollments in the fourth quarter of 2020 (October–December). In 2019–2020, participating sites doubled and patient enrollment quadrupled vs. 2017–2018.
TMIST has now enrolled 36,367 participants. Nearly 20% of the enrollees from the United States are Black women. The average Black cohort in U.S. clinical trials is approximately 8%.
Mammography sites interested in taking part in TMIST may visit acr.org/TMIST or email TMIST@acr.org for additional information and start the application process.
New IDEAS off to a Fast Start
One hundred eighty PET imaging sites have completed a practice survey — the first registration step for the New Imaging Dementia—Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) study since its Dec. 9 launch. One hundred seventy-five dementia providers have also completed this first registration step.
With at least 4,000 of the 7,000 New IDEAS study patients to be Black or Latino, the trial is among the most diverse dementia studies ever performed.
New IDEAS will accept approximately 350 PET sites. PET imaging facilities serving large Black and/or Latino populations are strongly encouraged to apply to take part in New IDEAS. Please send any questions to newideas@acr.org.
Working Together
As Chair of the ACR Research commission, I think we — as radiologists — should be proud of our efforts to move medicine forward and ensure that underserved communities are not left behind as healthcare advances.
Together, we can make medicine better for all of our patients.
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