Historically, most clinical trials haven’t been built with underrepresented people in mind—and that shows in the data. For decades, systemic barriers have limited who participates in studies, which means findings haven't always reflected the full diversity of real-world populations.
The damage this gap between study results and lived experience has caused is two-fold: entire communities have been excluded from health advancements, while the future of medical research has been stifled by siloed data.
Let's explore how inclusive design, co-creation with community leaders, and flexible trial formats can better support underrepresented patient populations and clinical studies—and how Acclinate is helping reshape research around the people it has historically overlooked.
Traditional research methods often exclude people unintentionally through strict eligibility criteria, site locations, or study designs that don’t consider cultural or logistical barriers. Eligibility requirements can screen out older adults, individuals with comorbidities, or those living far from research centers. Meanwhile, complex protocols, rigid visit schedules, and mistrust rooted in past abuses all contribute to low participation among marginalized communities.
The result is a body of research that, while rigorous, often fails to represent the full human picture. Data gaps translate into treatment gaps, which perpetuate inequities. As the National Institutes of Health notes, diverse participation is essential to ensure that medical advances benefit everyone—not just those easiest to reach.
Designing for inclusion begins long before recruitment starts. It requires a shift from “How do we get people to join?” to “How can we design research that welcomes everyone in the first place?”
Trials should reflect the complexity of real-world patients. Rather than narrowing eligibility to the “ideal participant,” researchers can adapt criteria to include diverse ages, comorbidities, and social contexts. Expanding eligibility improves both representation and external validity.
True inclusion requires collaboration. Partnering with community leaders, faith organizations, and advocacy groups ensures that research reflects the needs, values, and voices of the populations it aims to serve. This co-creation approach moves beyond token consultation—it gives communities agency in shaping study design, outreach, and communication.
Rigid, site-based studies can exclude those who face transportation, childcare, or work challenges. Hybrid and decentralized models—combining in-person and remote elements—allow participants to engage on their terms. These approaches expand access while maintaining data integrity.
Inclusive design also means designing with empathy. Materials should be linguistically and culturally relevant, recruitment should acknowledge historical mistrust, and data use should be transparent. As Acclinate UX designer Apurva Chinta wrote in Designing for Empathy: Creating Accessible Tech with a Human Touch, technology and research alike must “meet people where they are” to foster genuine connection.
Diversity isn’t simply a goal, but a commitment to measure and improve over time. Building feedback loops into studies ensures ongoing communication and accountability, showing participants how their involvement shapes outcomes.
At Acclinate, inclusion is built into our design philosophy. Our approach integrates data, systems, and human connection:
This model advances inclusion from aspiration to action, helping sponsors design studies that reflect the people most impacted by their outcomes.
Inclusive research design isn’t just ethical—it’s practical. Studies that include diverse populations produce data that’s more reliable, generalizable, and market-ready. Sponsors benefit from faster enrollment, fewer protocol deviations, and improved retention rates when trials align with participants’ realities.
Regulatory bodies are taking note: the FDA now requires Diversity Action Plans outlining how sponsors will recruit and retain participants from underrepresented groups. Meeting these expectations means embedding inclusion into design, not adding it at the end.
Ultimately, inclusive design delivers better science. When more people see themselves represented in research, trust grows, engagement increases, and healthcare outcomes improve for everyone.
To operationalize inclusive design:
These actions help transform research from an extractive process to a collaborative one—rooted in respect, trust, and shared benefit.
The path to equity starts long before recruitment—it begins at the design table. By involving communities early, embedding empathy into every touchpoint, and embracing flexible trial models, we can create a research ecosystem that truly reflects the diversity of the world it seeks to serve.
At Acclinate, we’re committed to helping sponsors lead that change—so every discovery moves us closer to a future where research represents all of us.
Want a closer look at how we approach inclusive research? Schedule a 1:1 with our team.