The Forward Momentum Coalition Aims to Increase Diversity in Research and Develop New Digital Resources for Men with Prostate Cancer

BlackDoctor.org, Evidation Health, Movember, and Myovant Sciences have launched Forward Momentum, a coalition working on innovative projects to increase diversity in research and develop new digital resources for men with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in U.S. men, and Black men are twice as likely to die from the disease. Even though a lot of progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, the Forward Momentum coalition believes that collaboration between healthcare, research, and advocacy organizations is necessary to improve the quality of life for men with prostate cancer and, most importantly, to better understand and address racial disparities in the disease.

Forward Momentum announced two initial projects aimed toward these goals: increasing diversity in health research and creating digital resources to track mental and physical health in prostate cancer.

Evidation is working with BlackDoctor.org to help Black men and women participate in a study being conducted in collaboration with Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine and the New York City of Health and Mental Hygiene to determine the effects COVID-19 is having on mental health. Evidation is making a determined effort to make health research more representative and inclusive.

“Black men and women have historically been under-represented in scientific and clinical research,” said BlackDoctor.org CEO Reggie Ware. “Yet, without higher levels of participation, we cannot effectively investigate the disproportionate impact of diseases affecting Black communities. We are proud to use our platform to encourage more members of the Black community to participate in these important studies and make their voices heard—particularly around critical healthcare issues like COVID-19 and prostate cancer.”

Evidation Co-founder and President Christine Lemke added, “Representation truly matters in studies of all kinds. It’s especially critical for diverse voices to be heard and counted given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. We’ve designed our study to lower the barriers to participation and capture our collective lived experience of the pandemic.”

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