2025 Encoding Health Equity Summit - Advancing Research Practices - Panel Discussion-Advancing Research Practices

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Video Summary

The recent panel discussion focused on advancing research practices by rethinking the use of race in research. Philip Alberti introduced Dr. Felicity Enders, a biostatistician at the Mayo Clinic, who proposed a new method called "population-conscious analysis" to replace traditional reliance on race and ethnicity in studies. Dr. Enders emphasized that race and ethnicity are social constructs often used as proxies for various factors, such as genetic ancestry and social determinants, and should not be used as direct predictors in scientific research. She proposed replacing race with more precise variables like genetic ancestry, stress markers, and socioeconomic factors. The method involves four steps: sampling and assessing inclusion by race, developing models without using race as a predictor, and checking residual confounding by race to ensure comprehensive analysis. She stressed the need for researchers to explore new variables that replace race to avoid embedding structural racism into clinical practices. The discussion also addressed the challenges of implementing this approach in clinical algorithms and the broader research landscape. Panelists agreed on the importance of diversifying data collection to enhance research quality and foster equity in healthcare outcomes.

Keywords

population-conscious analysis

race in research

genetic ancestry

socioeconomic factors

structural racism

clinical algorithms

diversifying data

healthcare equity