Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s clinical trials program has received a nearly $400,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation. This grant comes as Mary Bird Perkins has made gains in attracting local minority populations and underserved communities to take part in clinical trials.
Currently, minority populations make up 21% of those on an active clinical trial at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. In 2024, 18% of new clinical trial enrollments were from minority populations—well above national averages, which tend to be disproportionately less than their representation in the U.S. population.
The two-year grant from the Gilead Foundation will fund a dedicated patient navigator and support community engagement opportunities to generate more awareness of how clinical trials outreach can benefit everyone, including historically underrepresented populations in the Baton Rouge area. These efforts will help achieve the main goal of the grant, which is to see a five – 10% increase in participation rates of underrepresented populations in breast clinical trials by August 2026.
For more information, contact Mary Bird Perkins’ Clinical Research office at (225) 215-1375, or by email at clinicalresearch@marybird.com.
“Diverse participation in clinical trials is not only an issue of equity, but of scientific accuracy and advancement,” said Victor Lin, MD, PhD, research medical director, Mary Bird Perkins. “When clinical research reflects the full spectrum of our communities, we’re able to develop treatments that are more effective for more people. Today, as we celebrate National Clinical Trials Day, we know it’s not enough to offer trials—we must make sure they are accessible and inclusive.”
An awareness campaign is also under development with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center commissioning The Walls Project—a community reactivation group known for transforming public spaces through visual storytelling—to create a large-scale mural in North Baton Rouge. Designed to spark conversation and deepen public understanding of clinical trials, the mural will be shaped by input from local health leaders, community advocates, and the Cancer Center’s own creative team, ensuring the art reflects both the spirit and voices of the community it is aimed at reaching.
The mural will be unveiled in North Baton Rouge late this summer. Those wanting to follow the process can follow Mary Bird Perkins on the organization’s media channels.