On 17 September 2025, during the STAR Investigator event connected to the EADV (international event for the latest scientific advances and research in Dermatology and Venereology) Congress in Paris, France, Dr Susan Tio, Ph.D., Senior Director, EU Region Lead Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials at Sanofi, presented on Sanofi’s global initiatives for diversity and inclusion in clinical studies.
The STAR satellite event combined oral presentations with an interactive poster session. The program allowed for a diverse ecosystem of external stakeholders to engage with Sanofi’s Medical and R&D teams. There was an array of external stakeholders from 13 different countries. Tio’s poster, “Highlighting Sanofi’s activities to support Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials,” showcased how Sanofi is advancing equity across its clinical research.
In addition, she introduced attendees to READI, a large-scale European initiative dedicated to reshaping the clinical studies ecosystem in Europe, allowing everyone – especially underserved and underrepresented (US/UR) populations – to access, participate and benefit from health innovations.
Why inclusive clinical studies matter
Clinical research is vital for understanding diseases, developing treatments and improving care. To deliver better outcomes for all, it must be representative and inclusive. Yet, many populations are underrepresented and underserved in clinical studies. Barriers include lack of information or awareness, mistrust, poor communication, geographic limitations, and social prejudice. READI aims to address these challenges through targeted interventions and digital tools.
Clinical research in Europe often fails to be representative, as it does not include patients who fully reflect the population that ultimately receives the therapy, leading to significant gaps in medical knowledge and healthcare access. These disparities mean that many people do not benefit from medical advancements simply because they are not adequately included in research. This wider context set the stage for Susan Tio’s poster at the STAR event in Paris, where READI’s contributions to addressing these challenges were put in the spotlight.
Raising visibility for READI
Although the poster was centred on Sanofi’s global initiatives, the IHI – READI Project was featured, offering an important opportunity to raise awareness of the project. Many investigators present were interested in READI, and Dr Tio was able to explain how this six-year initiative—running from 2025 to 2030 with 73 partners across 18 countries—is working to make clinical studies in Europe more representative and equitable.
Although READI will run until 2030, its vision is to lay the foundations for sustainable change in clinical research. By empowering patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and patient organizations with tailored tools, training and resources to enable broader, more equitable participation in clinical studies, ensuring that representation improves, and that clinical research reflects real-world needs.
This long-term perspective resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom expressed interest in learning more about how the project’s outputs could help them in their own work.
Shared challenges confirm the need for action
The Paris event stimulated important discussions on how to break down barriers that ensure representativeness across all populations—regardless of background, location, or circumstances. On this event surfaced several pressing challenges in clinical research that reinforce why initiatives like READI are timely and necessary, Dr Susan Tio noted:
“Several important themes came up in the discussions. Site capacity building was strongly emphasised, especially the need to support recruitment of diverse populations in remote areas. The placebo arm was also raised as a barrier to participation, with a clear call for solutions that enable more inclusive protocol design. There was a remark that supporting enrolment of diverse populations should not negatively impact recruitment of non-US/UR groups, for example through caps. Finally, the role of pharmacies was highlighted to raise clinical trial awareness and as a place where community and patient engagement could be leveraged. These are exactly the types of challenges that need systemic solutions — and they connect directly to what READI is working to achieve.”
Together, these insights not only underline the urgency of building more inclusive clinical research practices but also position READI as a timely and essential initiative. By surfacing at STAR, the project’s presence signalled to investigators that practical solutions are being developed — solutions designed to address these systemic barriers and create a clinical research ecosystem where every population can participate and benefit.
Dr. Susan Tio presenting Sanofi’s diversity and inclusion initiatives at the STAR Investigator event highlighting the IHI-READI Project in Paris.
Opportunities for collaboration
Beyond the exchange of ideas, the STAR event opened doors to potential synergies that could complement READI’s activities. As Dr Tio noted:
- Possibly a site network in The Netherlands.
- A pharmacy association in Germany, given the role that pharmacies can play in raising awareness of clinical studies and providing a location where community and patient engagement could be leveraged.
These reflections show how new connections made at such events may contribute to the wider ecosystem of inclusive clinical research in Europe.
A shared commitment to equity and empowerment
Dr. Tio’s reflections highlight the importance of events like STAR as platforms for building momentum toward more inclusive clinical research. By engaging directly with investigators, she not only showcased Sanofi’s global leadership in diversity and inclusion but also positioned READI as a European force for change.
The conversations in Paris reinforced that equity and empowerment in clinical studies is both a scientific and ethical imperative. By equipping patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and organizations with the tailored tools, training, and communication strategies, READI, along with key stakeholders involved, ensures that underrepresented and underserved populations who wish to participate, , have increased opportunities to participate in clinical studies.
