Advancing Diversity in Clinical Development

July 11, 2023

In this episode of The Scope of Things, Deb Borfitz speaks with Murray Aitken, Executive Director of the IQVIA Institute, about diversity in clinical development, DEI methods that are and are not working, and the impact diversity has on clinical trials. Aitken also discusses FDA-issued policies to advance diversity and efforts to reduce disparities between subpopulations. He also talks about factors that contribute to those disparities, such as socio-economic backgrounds, genetics, and trust in the system. Finally, he delves into the importance of having diverse groups of participants—particularly Black and Hispanic Americans—in clinical trials to ensure that patients receive the best treatment options and healthcare access.

Murray Aitken, Executive Director of IQVIA Institute 
Murray Aitken is the executive director of the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. Mr. Aitken is a renowned expert on the challenges facing the global healthcare industry, and the prospects for improving patient outcomes through managing costs and maximizing access through Human Data Science. Throughout his 15-year tenure at IQVIA, Mr. Aitken has served in various roles responsible for healthcare insights, corporate strategy, and consulting. Prior to his time at IQVIA, Mr. Aitken was a partner at McKinsey & Company in New Jersey and Los Angeles in the U.S. and in Seoul, South Korea, covering a broad range of industries, including life sciences and consumer goods.

He holds an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard University, and a Masters of Commerce from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. A frequent speaker on the international healthcare circuit, Mr. Aitken’s perspectives are widely covered in the business/financial press, including The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Fortune, Time, The Associated Press, Bloomberg business, Reuters, and CNBC.