Innovative Strategies to Diversify Clinical Trials Talk by Holly A. Massett, PhD

Holly A. Massett, PhD, is Director of the Office of Clinical Research (OCR) at the National Institute on Aging (NIA). OCR is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring of best practices to comply with federal clinical research regulatory and policy requirements and achieve planned recruitment and inclusion goals.

Dr. Massett talks about the strategies that the National Institute on Aging has undertaken to diversify participants in our clinical trials.
Last year the NIH released its wide strategic plan for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, acknowledging that our nation’s history of persistent health disparities, and many other forms of inequality, and to put forth a strategic plan that seeks to address challenges with actionable goals and strategies. Click here to watch the talk

2024 Visionary Award by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)

Dr. VJ Periyakoil, Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean of Research, received the 2024 Visionary Award by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Every five years, AAHPM calls upon its extensive membership of over 5,000 professionals to nominate visionaries who have significantly shaped the landscape of palliative care. “This program recognizes extraordinary individuals who continue to enhance the delivery of care for seriously ill patients and have brought true innovation to our field,” noted Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA FASAE, AAHPM CEO. Dr. Periyakoil’s groundbreaking contributions at Stanford University and her tireless efforts in advancing the field have earned her this distinguished accolade.

Virtual reality helps people with hoarding disorder practice decluttering

A first-of-its-kind study by Stanford Medicine researchers lets patients practice letting go of treasured objects in simulations of their own homes. A virtual reality simulation of a patient’s home can provide “a kind of stepping stone” toward discarding real-life possessions, according to Carolyn Rodriguez. A pilot study suggests that virtual reality therapy allows those with hoarding disorder to rehearse relinquishing possessions in a simulation of their own home could help them declutter in real life. The simulations can help patients practice organizational and decision-making skills learned in cognitive behavioral therapy. The study was published in the October 2023 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Machine learning prediction of mild cognitive impairment and its progression to Alzheimer’s disease

Health Science Report: Effective screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease is a crucial step in helping aging population with their needs Early detection and automated screening for MCI and dementia could offer opportunities for deliberate study and recruitment into trials for developing other potentially useful therapeutics or interventions.

The study was first published in October 2023. The results illustrate that it is possible to predict MCI onset and AD progression with moderate levels of accuracy, which suggests an opportunity for population-wide screening mechanisms to identify patients at potential risk, who could then undergo more specific evaluation to consider early treatment or recruitment into clinical trials.