While it would be impractical — and unnecessary — to try to conduct trials in every single recognized patient population, researchers should design trials, choose study sites and recruit patients in a way that generates data about the safety and efficacy of drugs for as much of the population as possible. This could mean conducting studies in particular places or merely increasing the numbers of patients recruited to include less-represented populations.

Over the past decade, there has been a growing awareness in the scientific community of the rift between “bench” and “bedside” — between research and development to bring new drug therapies to market and the eventual application of those therapies to improve both individual and public health.