How do your donations accelerate research for a cure and improve the lives of people affected by MS?
Your generosity supports ACP’s initiatives to accelerate MS research for quicker diagnosis, more effective treatments, and a cure for all living with the disease.
The MS Minority Research Engagement Partnership Network (MREPN) is working to make research more inclusive and accessible. It focuses on reaching people who are often left out – whether because of race, age, gender identity, disability, or where they live. By bringing together people with MS, researchers, advocates, and others, the MREPN works to break down barriers and ensure all voices are heard – so that research truly benefits everyone.
Samantha Reyes, a dedicated member of the MREPN, has been actively working to understand why some communities remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Most recently, she focused on Asian Americans – a group that continues to have low participation in research. To explore this further, Samantha interviewed eight Asian American members of iConquerMS to hear their experiences firsthand.
Through these interviews, Samantha discovered that the Asian American community is incredibly diverse, with many distinct cultural and ethnic subgroups, making it difficult to generalize experiences. A common thread among participants was the challenge of misdiagnosis – many shared that their symptoms were dismissed or overlooked by neurologists, often because of a perception that Asians look younger and therefore are unlikely to have MS. Another important insight was a cultural tendency toward privacy around health, which can further discourage participation in clinical trials.
Samantha’s findings will play an important role in improving clinical trial experiences for underrepresented groups. Her insights are being used to develop training materials for researchers and medical professionals, with a focus on soft skills and culturally sensitive communication. By equipping them with better tools to understand and connect with diverse participants, the hope is to increase trial participation and ensure people from all backgrounds are seen and respected.
Inspired by the success of this work, the MREPN is considering similar efforts with other underrepresented groups, including Indigenous populations, Native Alaskans, and LGBTQ individuals. These communities also face cultural and systemic barriers that limit their involvement in research. Samantha is eager to continue supporting this broader initiative, helping to ensure that the voices of all communities are heard in the search for better treatments and understanding of MS.
