BATON ROUGE, La. – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s nationally-recognized clinical trials program has received a nearly $400,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation. This grant comes as Mary Bird Perkins has made unprecedented gains in attracting local minority populations and underserved communities to take part in clinical trials.
Currently, minority populations make up 21% of those on an active clinical trial at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. In 2024, 18% of new clinical trial enrollments were from minority populations—well above national averages, which tend to be disproportionately less than their representation in the US population. These results can be attributed to Mary Bird Perkins’ prioritization of diversity in research and efforts to create more personalized and equitable opportunities.
The two-year grant from the Gilead Foundation will fund a dedicated patient navigator and support community engagement opportunities to generate more awareness of how clinical trials outreach can benefit everyone, including historically underrepresented populations in the Baton Rouge area. These efforts will help achieve the main goal of the grant, which is to see a 5 – 10% increase in participation
rates of underrepresented populations in breast clinical trials by August 2026.
For more information, contact Mary Bird Perkins’ Clinical Research office at (225) 215-1375, or by email at clinicalresearch@marybird.com.
“Diverse participation in clinical trials is not only an issue of equity, but of scientific accuracy and advancement,” said Dr. Victor Lin, MD, PhD, research medical director, Mary Bird Perkins. “When clinical research reflects the full spectrum of our communities, we’re able to develop treatments that are more effective for more people. Today, as we celebrate National Clinical Trials Day, we know it’s not enough to offer trials—we must make sure they are accessible and inclusive.”
Currently, every patient receiving care at Mary Bird Perkins undergoes an evaluation for potential clinical trial participation – including phase 1 trials, which launched in 2023. These trials are performed during the earliest stage of testing for new therapies and require a level of expertise and resources only available at the highest-performing cancer centers. Practices and protocols developed via grant funding
from the Gilead Foundation between now and 2026 will help advance the Cancer Center’s broader clinical research program, which now spans across Louisiana.
The Cancer Center’s commitment to increasing diversity in trials is just one part of its broader mission to make high-quality cancer care accessible to all patients, regardless of background or zip code. This mission is made possible through the generosity of philanthropic partners, including Gilead and many others.
“Philanthropy plays a critical role in expanding what’s possible in cancer care,” said Danielle Mack, vice president and chief philanthropy officer, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “Grants like this one from the Gilead Foundation empower us to innovate, reach more people, and eliminate barriers that have historically kept too many from accessing lifesaving research. This is what community-focused cancer
care looks like in action.”
An awareness campaign is also under development with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center commissioning The Walls Project—an acclaimed community reactivation group known for transforming public spaces through powerful visual storytelling—to create a large-scale mural in North Baton Rouge. Designed to spark conversation and deepen public understanding of clinical trials, the mural will be shaped by input from local health leaders, community advocates, and the Cancer Center’s own creative team, ensuring the art reflects both the spirit and voices of the community it is aimed at reaching.
The mural will be unveiled in North Baton Rouge late this summer. Those wanting to follow the process can follow Mary Bird Perkins on the organization’s media channels.