We did it! Thanks to YOU, Pledge-O-Rama was an amazing success! Thank you so much for your support!
Listen Live

On-air now: Album Authority 11:00am–12:00pm

Up next: Democracy Now 12:00pm–1:00pm

The Emerging Scholar Podcast

Season 1, Episode 14: Equity And Inclusion In The Design and Delivery Of Randomized Control Trials with Dr. Jonathan Jackson

Welcome to Episode 14, the final episode of Season 1 of the Emerging Scholar Podcast!

On our final episode of the season, we’re honoured to welcome Dr. Jonathan Jackson, the executive director of the Community Access Recruitment and Engagement Research Centre at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on the impact of diversity and inclusion in human subjects research, particularly how community engagement can help overcome barriers to clinical trial participation and build trust in with leaders from structurally and racially oppressed communities.

Dr. Jackson shares valuable insights on the importance of equity and inclusion in the design and delivery of randomized controlled trials, a topic he also explored in an outstanding interview on the Sirius Epi podcast. We dive into strategies for institutions to engage meaningfully and equitably with structurally oppressed and racially marginalized groups, discussing how this engagement not only strengthens the external validity of clinical research but also enhances the overall quality of research programs.

This conversation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to integrating equity and inclusion into research practice. Whether you're an emerging scholar or an established researcher, Dr. Jackson’s expertise will inspire you to think critically about how to create more inclusive research environments.

Thank you for joining us this season — be sure to join us for more interesting and insightful episodes in Season 2 of the Emerging Scholar podcast, coming in 2025!

Papers & Resources That We Touched On In This Episode:

Guests

  • Dr. Jonathan Jackson

    Jonathan Jackson, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Community Access, Recruitment, and Engagement (CARE) Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. CARE investigates the impact of diversity and inclusion on the quality of human subjects research and leverages deep community entrenchment to build trust and overcome barriers to clinical trial participation. His research focuses on midlife and late-life health disparities in clinical settings that affect underserved populations. Dr. Jackson also works as a cognitive neuroscientist, investigating the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the absence of overt memory problems. He has become a well-known representative to underserved communities and dozens of affiliated organizations, particularly regarding participation in clinical research. Dr. Jackson serves on the leadership team of several organizations focused on community health, and has written guidance for local, statewide, and national groups on research access, engagement, and recruitment.