Biomedical research plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of health and disease. However, a recent study published in Synthese challenges the default collection and reliance on ethno-racial data in this field. The authors of the study, Tomasz Żuradzki from Jagiellonian University in Kraków and Joanna K. Malinowska from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, argue that the current practices of mandating proportional representation of racial groups in clinical trials lack scientific or ethical justification.
The study highlights several flaws in the current approach to ethno-racial data collection. One major concern is that racial categories used in research are social constructs rather than biologically meaningful classifications. This can lead to oversimplified groupings that may result in spurious correlations and unfounded generalizations about health outcomes. Additionally, the study points out that the emphasis on collecting ethno-racial data often leads to post hoc subgroup analyses without prior hypotheses, increasing the risk of false positives and reinforcing unsupported claims about racial differences in health outcomes.
To address these issues, the authors propose a new framework for population stratification in biomedical research. This framework emphasizes hypothesis-driven research and transparent justification for population stratification. Researchers are encouraged to provide a clear rationale for using specific racial categories, pre-register hypotheses related to population stratification, and move beyond default categories to define subgroups based on study-specific evidence.
The implications of this proposed framework are significant for both researchers and regulators. Researchers are urged to integrate ethical and epistemological considerations into study design, ensuring that population stratifications are scientifically justified and socially responsible. Regulators are called upon to shift from blanket inclusion of racial data to critical evaluation of stratification practices on a case-by-case basis.
In conclusion, while ethno-racial data may have value in specific contexts, the authors caution against its routine use without adequate justification. By moving away from rigid racial stratifications, researchers can conduct more precise and equitable biomedical research. This study invites stakeholders in the field to reflect on the role of racial categories in medical research and adopt practices that prioritize scientific rigor and ethical integrity.
For more information on this study, you can access the original publication in Synthese by Tomasz Żuradzki et al, titled “Ethno-racial categorisations for biomedical studies: the fair selection of research participants and population stratification.” (DOI: 10.1007/s11229-024-04769-8).
