Clinical research is essential for medical progress, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. It is through research that we get new treatments and refine existing therapies. Beyond developing drugs, clinical research embodies hope, offering patients early access to new treatment options that may extend or improve their quality of life. Also, inclusive research fosters health equity, ensuring that all populations benefit from advancements in healthcare. However, various communities including Sikh community (around 700,000 individuals in the U.S.) remain underrepresented in clinical research due to a lack of awareness and education.
Recognizing the importance of inclusion, Sikhs In Clinical Research (SICR) has been actively working to raise awareness about clinical research through on-the-ground outreach and engagement programs. From June 2022 to October 2024, SICR hosted 25 events across multiple states in the United States and Canada, including Illinois, Indiana, New York, California, Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Toronto, reaching over 3,500 attendees and distributing over 2,500 informational pamphlets. During this period, more than 600 individuals signed up for a newsletter. Moreover, several attendees shared their thoughts through video testimonials, highlighting the importance of such initiatives and many expressed interest in webinars, becoming ambassadors, or exploring clinical research as a career or treatment option.
Expanding Reach and Building Trust
Expanding its reach further, between November 2024 and September 2025, Sikhs in Clinical Research (SICR), hosted 22 community outreach and engagement events across the United States. This period marked remarkable growth, reaching multiple states, including Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Nevada, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, California, Illinois, New York, and Michigan. During these events, SICR Founder Ekta Grewal delivered speeches, and attendees’ questions, fears, and misconceptions towards clinical research were addressed, fostering trust and understanding of clinical research.
At: Attendance; FF: Feedback Forms
Key Statistics: Community Engagement and Impact
Across all 22 events, over 3,462 individuals attended, 5000+ informational pamphlets distributed and 555 feedback forms were filled out, highlighting strong community engagement and providing valuable insights into attendees’ needs, interests, and preferences. Overall, 76% of participants (423 of 555) reported that they learned about clinical research through SICR’s event, and 81% (450 of 555) expressed interest in exploring it further. This demonstrates the strong motivational impact of these awareness campaigns and highlights the community’s readiness for continued engagement and participation in future events.
When examining specific community needs and interests, the highest level of reported interest overall was early access to new treatment options (75%, 414), treatment at no cost (61%, 339), and not requiring health insurance (53%, 293). This shows that the ability to access innovative therapies, followed by treatment affordability, are the most important factors for patients and families. About 297 (54%) people reported learning that participation in clinical research is voluntary, suggesting the community is becoming aware of the consent form process and that safeguards are in place. Overall, the data indicate a strong demand for education on new treatment access.
Growing Awareness and Understanding
A more structured and enhanced evaluation form was introduced during the recent nine events, and the results are based on 340 feedback forms collected across seven states. The data shows that participants’ awareness of clinical research nearly doubled, increasing from an average score of 3.1 before the event to 6.2 after. Participants in almost every state showed a nearly 100% increase in awareness, indicating that first-time exposure to clinical research had a strong impact.
Satisfaction levels were consistently high, averaging 6.5-to-6.6 for both the overall event and learning experience. Participants also showed strong interest in staying involved, with a likelihood-to-attend rating of 6.4 and a likelihood-to-recommend-to-others rating of 6.5, reflecting the success of SICR’s content and approach.
Overall, these findings show that the enhanced feedback form effectively captured participants’ learning, satisfaction, and motivation. It provided clear evidence of impact, proving that SICR’s community outreach events are consistently successful in raising awareness and strengthening engagement in clinical research.
Preferred Learning Formats
Based on feedback responses, the data also highlights how communities prefer to learn about clinical research. Participants showed clear interest in multiple learning formats, with in-person workshops (57%, 193) being the top choice. This suggests that personal interaction and discussion facilitate a deeper understanding of complex topics such as clinical research. Explanatory videos (40%, 135) and interactive websites (36%, 124) were also popular, showing growing interest in flexible, self-paced learning options.
Digital tools such as animated social media posts (30%, 102) and webinars (35%, 118) also received considerable interest, highlighting the value of maintaining a strong online presence. SICR is already leveraging these platforms through regular webinars, educational videos, and engaging online content. Overall, while face-to-face workshops remain the most effective way to connect with communities, combining them with these digital learning tools, especially videos and interactive websites, helps us reach more people and keep them engaged for long-term sustainability.
Topics of Interest
Similarly, participants shared the topics they wanted to learn more about. Disease Prevention & Management (52%, 177) was the most selected topic, followed by Understanding the Healthcare System (48%, 163), New Medication Technologies (45%, 153), and Navigating Clinical Trials (41%, 141). The consistent interest across these categories reveals that attendees value learning opportunities that connect personal health management with broader healthcare and research opportunities.
New Initiatives
The introduction of new features and engagement tools across recent events significantly enriched participant experience and strengthened community connection.
- Q&A sessions, “Spin the Wheel” games, and new giveaways (hoodies, shirts, snacks, first-aid kits, goodie bags, booklets, and keychains) created a more interactive and welcoming environment, encouraging participation and dialogue.
- The launch of the new comic book, YouTube channel with Punjabi videos, and printed educational materials with Sikh images expanded accessibility and cultural relevance, helping participants connect more personally with clinical research topics.
- Posters displayed at Sikh temples (Gurudwaras), nurse-led basic vital checks, and opportunities for community members to share their health journeys or experiences with clinical trials helped build trust in the process. Several Gurudwaras invited SICR back for future events, demonstrating sustained community interest.
- Introduced a new on-demand printing tool to print information about clinical trial sites in their area on the spot (sourced from clinicaltrials.gov).
- Developed a comprehensive database to support ongoing outreach and engagement efforts.
- Conducted follow-up calls to ensure long-term sustainability and continued community connection.
Key Takeaways from SICR's Outreach Efforts
- Outreach Events & Attendance: To date, SICR conducted around 50 events across 15+ states, reaching over 7000 attendees.
- Newsletter Signups: Over 2,000 people subscribed to our newsletter to receive updates about clinical research opportunities.
- Pamphlets Distributed: More than 7,500 informational pamphlets were shared, many in Punjabi, to make the information accessible and culturally relevant.
- Video Feedback & Testimonials: Attendees provided 50+ video testimonials, sharing their experiences and emphasizing the value of these outreach events.
- Feedback Forms: During the recent 22 events, participants’ awareness of clinical research nearly doubled, and satisfaction levels were consistently high with many attendees emphasizing the importance of such events for future.
Looking Ahead
Rooted in Sikh values of service and equality, Sikhs in Clinical Research (SICR) represents a faith-led community initiative dedicated to advancing inclusion and equity in healthcare. Under the leadership of Ekta Grewal, SICR Founder, the organization continues to bridge the gap between the clinical research industry and communities by driving advocacy, awareness, and collaboration across the clinical research landscape.
As SICR moves forward, our focus will be on expanding outreach across more U.S. states, strengthening partnerships, and amplifying Sikh voices. Through these efforts, we aim to build trust, increase awareness, and empower individuals, particularly those from minority sub-populations, to help them make informed decisions about their health and participation in research. By promoting representation, health equity, and sustained engagement, SICR seeks to ensure that the Sikh community remains visible, valued, and actively involved in shaping the future of healthcare.
The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future for healthcare. Inclusion begins with understanding: listening to cultural perspectives, acknowledging barriers, and designing studies that reflect the lived experiences of diverse populations. When research materials are written in the language of the community, and when sites are trained in cultural competence, participation becomes more accessible and meaningful. Through partnerships that prioritize awareness, representation, and transparency, we not only strengthen scientific integrity but also ensure that new treatments truly serve everyone.
Acknowledgement
We extend our sincere appreciation to our staff, Gurdwara committee members, ambassadors, and the individuals and families who shared their feedback and stories. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors—New Life Clinical Research for the June 2022 to October 2024 events, and Sanofi for the November 2024 to September 2025 events. Together, we continue to strengthen awareness, expand opportunities, and create a meaningful and lasting impact.
