Clinical Trials Start with People: Making Genomic Research More Inclusive
Clinical trials have changed the world, and saved millions of lives. But they face a persistent challenge: representation. Often, the people participating in clinical research don’t reflect the full diversity of the populations those treatments aim to help. When genomic research is built on incomplete data, the future of precision medicine risks becoming exclusive instead of inclusive.
For Clinical Trials Day, we’re shining a light on the role genomics plays in transforming clinical trials, and why equity and inclusion must be at the heart of that transformation.
Why Inclusion in Genomics Matters
Genomics holds the promise of personalised, data-driven healthcare. But that promise only becomes reality when we base it on complete datasets that reflect all ethnicities, genders, geographies, and communities.
Underrepresentation of Diverse Populations in Genomic Research
Approximately 80–90% of genomic data used in research today comes from individuals of European descent. This lack of representation means many populations are at risk of being left behind in genomic discoveries, diagnostic advances, and new treatments. When clinical trials don’t account for this, it impacts everything from drug efficacy to safety to long-term outcomes.
- A study published in Health Affairs found that the majority of genomic studies focus on populations of European ancestry, with significantly fewer studies of African, Latin American, and Asian ancestral populations.
https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1595 - The Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) Catalog and the Database of Genotypes and Phenotypes show a disproportionate number of studies involving individuals of European descent compared to those of African, Latin American, and Asian ancestries. https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/ For example; A systematic review published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia found that 82% of neurodegenerative disease GWAS predominantly featured participants of European ancestry. In contrast, studies involving non-European or multi-ancestry populations identified only 52 risk loci, compared to over 90 in predominantly European studies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39030740/
- Additionally, a study published in Genome Medicine highlighted that, despite comprising only 16% of the global population, individuals of European descent account for approximately 79% of all GWAS participants. https://rdcu.be/elDZc
The result:
- This lack of representation means many populations are at risk of being left behind in genomic discoveries, diagnostic advances, and new treatments.
- When clinical trials don’t account for this, it impacts everything from drug efficacy to safety to long-term outcomes.
The science is clear: inclusive trials lead to better science. More accurate models. More reliable biomarkers. More lives saved.
Genomic Data = Better, Smarter Trials
When clinical trials integrate genomic data early, they don’t just become more efficient, they become more human.
- Smarter recruitment: Genomic data can help identify the right participants faster, based on real biological markers.
- Stronger results: Stratifying trial cohorts by genomic profile leads to deeper insights and more predictive outcomes.
- Greater equity: Inclusion of diverse genomic datasets ensures new treatments are safe and effective for everyone.
But none of this is possible without secure, scalable, structured genomic data. That’s where we come in.
Zetta Genomics: Powering Inclusion at Scale
At Zetta Genomics, we built XetaBase to meet this exact challenge. To support inclusive, population-scale genomic research. Our platform helps researchers and healthcare systems manage vast, diverse datasets ethically and effectively.
We believe:
- Genomic data must be accessible and always governed by consent.
- Every dataset represents real people.
- Equity is essential to scientific progress.
As genomic research expands, so must our commitment to inclusion. At Zetta Genomics, we’re not just building infrastructure, we’re enabling a future where every population is represented, and every individual counts. Because powering inclusion at scale isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a moral imperative.
