U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was visiting San Diego County on Friday as part of a national campaign to promote equity in health care.
why is it important
The visit is part of Becerra's national Latino health tour, in which he works with community partners and health systems to address health inequities faced by Latinos and communities of color.
Becerra invited researchers and other innovators from minority-serving institutions across California to explore new ways to improve diversity, access, and inclusion in clinical trials. The event was sponsored by San Diego State University and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, known as ARPA-H. ARPA-H is a federal agency launched in 2022 that funds new and innovative approaches to health.
Becerra highlighted issues such as cancer, the leading cause of death for Latinos, and the need for participation in clinical trials.
“Whether it's making sure that there are people who can participate in clinical trials that are less than 30 minutes away, or just making sure that the results of that research reach and succeed for everyone in this country. It's important to get people involved.'No one should be left behind,'' Becerra said.
In terms of numbers
ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn said women's health is also a top priority. The agency recently announced it will invest $100 million in women's health research.
“We're focusing on women's health at home. We're listening to our community and saying, 'I'm taking care of my children, I'm taking care of my parents.' Ta. I have to work. I don’t have time to go to the doctor,” Wegzin said. “So we want to innovate and think about what kinds of health care we can bring into the home.”
Wegzin said ARPA-H has donated more than $10 million to projects in San Diego County.
