The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) on Thursday launched a three-year Cancer Collective Action Collaborative to expand access to and participation in oncology clinical trials, with a focus on lung and breast cancer.

Building on the Rise to Health Coalition, the initiative will bring together 24 teams across the healthcare ecosystem to address barriers to participation, strengthen patient and community engagement, improve referral pathways and use data to drive continuous improvement.

The initiative aims to address disparities in cancer outcomes and clinical trial participation. Black women are 38% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, while lung cancer mortality is 14% higher among Black men than White men. Rural residents also face challenges, including a 40% higher risk of lung cancer, due to limited access to oncologists, fewer screening services, and longer travel distances for treatment.

Although approximately 80% of cancer patients receive care from community oncologists, only 4.1% of patients at community cancer programmes enrol in cancer treatment trials, compared with 21.6% at National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centres.

The collaborative will convene healthcare organisations, oncology practices, community cancer centres, community-based organisations, patient advocacy groups and people with lived experience through in-person and virtual learning to improve clinical trial access and participation.