Voices of Inclusive Research
Voices of Inclusive Research is a podcast dedicated to exploring the diverse and dynamic world of inclusive research. Each episode features thought leaders, community members and advocates who we welcome to share their questions, concerns, insights, lived experiences and groundbreaking work. Our mission is to give the community a voice in clinical research. We aim to inspire and inform by highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusivity in clinical research.
Voices of Inclusive Research
Healing the Delta: A Call for Research with Dr. Jazmine Crain
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“Let’s stop just talking about inclusion. Let’s go do the work.”
Host Dr. Ren Jones talks with Dr. Jazmine Crain, founder of Covalent Clinical Research, about building real trust and access in clinical research—starting in Mississippi. Dr. Crain shares how she meets communities where they are, from churches to clinics, making research visible and relevant.
Together, they call on sponsors and researchers to invest in underserved areas, build infrastructure, and partner with local leaders. This episode is a clear message: inclusion isn’t just talk—it’s action.
🎧 Listen in for an honest, boots-on-the-ground look at how real inclusion takes root.
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
- Inclusion Means Showing Up – Dr. Crain isn’t waiting for change—she’s showing up at churches, town halls, and clinics to bring clinical research directly to the community.
- We Can’t Build Trust Without Listening – By meeting people where they are and hearing their concerns, Dr. Crain is helping shape research that reflects real-life needs and lived experiences.
- Doctors Need Education Too – Community engagement is vital, but so is provider engagement. Dr. Crain shares how working with local physicians can open the door to more inclusive research participation.
- Representation Starts with Infrastructure – Sponsors can’t keep overlooking underserved areas. Real inclusion means investing in local sites and supporting grassroots leaders like Dr. Crain.
- It’s Bigger Than Recruitment – Education, ongoing relationships, and culturally relevant outreach are the keys to long-term impact—not just short-term enrollment numbers.
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
- "Let’s just not do talking. Let’s just do the work." – Dr. Jazmine Crain
- "We have to get them in that middle place." – Dr. Renarda Jones
- "Inclusion starts with infrastructure—and Dr. Crain is building it." – Dr. Renarda Jones
- "The more we get involved in research, the more beneficial the methods and the treatments will be for us." – Dr. Jazmine Crain
- "We deserve to have to live a healthier lifestyle." – Dr. Jazmine Crain
About Dr. Crain
Dr. Jazmine Crain is the founder of Covalent Clinical Research and a passionate advocate for health equity in Mississippi. A bioorganic analytical chemist by training, she’s on a mission to bring clinical trials and health education to underserved communities, especially in the Mississippi Delta. Dr. Crain works to break down barriers to research participation by building local partnerships, expanding access, and creating a more inclusive future for clinical care.
Connect with Dr. Jazmine Craine:
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We Want to Hear Your Voice!
Your insights on how inclusive research impacts your life and community are invaluable. Share your experiences and thoughts on how we can bridge the gap between research and real-world needs. Your stories drive our mission and inspire the future of inclusive research!
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
Dr. Ren: Welcome to another episode of Voices of Inclusive Research Podcast. I'm your host, Dr. R, founder of Diverse Research now and today you will hear the voice of a Dr. Jasmine Crane. She is a rising trailblazer in clinical research and dedicated community advocate. As the visionary founder of Covalent Clinical Research in central Mississippi, she expertly blends her scientific expertise as a bioorganic analytical chemist with a deep commitment to improving healthcare access for all Mississippians.
I am super excited to speak with Dr. Crane today. So let's get started. How are you doing today, Dr. Crane? I'm doing wonderful. How are you? I'm doing great. I'm so excited to have you here because Thank
Dr. Jazmine Crain: you.
Dr. Ren: We know who's in Mississippi, our people is in Mississippi, so we're and I love that.
And so tell us about you. What to do, why you do it? you in Mississippi?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Well, hello. Thank you for having me, Dr. Jones. It is so great to be on this wonderful podcast and I just cannot be more excited to be sharing with you today. So, yes, my name is Dr. Jasmine Crane. I am the founder of Covalent Clinical Research here in central Mississippi.
I got my start in clinical research industry as a senior clinical research coordinator. at Ochsner in Louisiana and there I worked on, maternal health studies. I worked on infectious disease studies. I worked with different populations, and I just really found my passion for clinical research.
Dr. Ren: Yeah.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I got my training as a chemist. at the University of Cincinnati where I trained as a bioorganic analytical chemist, where I was looking at the modification of proteins as they relate to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. So I've had a little. Bit of experience working in human subject, research, but actually getting into the clinical research space was actually my passion to really see where, how my work can affect others.
And know how the work that I do is improving the healthcare for certain communities.
Dr. Ren: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: And so coming back to Mississippi, I wanted to give. back to the community in which I grew up in and, give back to the state in which raised me. Yeah. And so once I was doing all the work in clinical research in, you know, Louisiana, I automatically thought like, why Mississippi don't have the infrastructure for clinical research and I wanna be the one to build that infrastructure and to improve the participation of, Mississippi in clinical trials.
Dr. Ren: Wow. Wow. okay, so you came back. Yes. So you're returning, you're returning to do the work.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: I love that. I love that. I feel the same way about Chicago. Even though there's a lot going on in Chicago already, you have a different reason for returning because you return because you actually did not see sites or your work, the work that you're passionate about.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. Being. Shared. or even being known in your community in Yes. Yes. So that was a big reason for you back Yes,
Dr. Ren: hear that. Okay.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: just to add to that, just a little bit of personal information about me. I lost my mom to lupus and renal, failure kidney failure, kidney disease.
And I was wondering what other treatments were out there, what other options, you know, we had when facing her disease and. the fatality of that disease and now seeing all of the studies with lupus that are available now just kind of gives me that wow factor. Like wow, there are other options and other treatment out there for individuals and, there are many people that don't know about it.
And so I wanna bring, that information out there, I wanna set that information forward for communities who really need it.
Dr. Ren: And was your mom in Mississippi?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. Yes. She was a head nurse at our local hospital in which she worked.
Dr. Ren: Wow. Wow. Okay. Now let's talk about this specific part of Mississippi that you're talking about.
You're talking about, it's called the Delta.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: Right? Yes. And that covers like, tell me kinda what that covers.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: So the Delta covers about 50% of Mississippi. it is very rural. Well, let me take that back. The Delta covers about 18 counties of Mississippi. Okay. Mississippi is made of 82 counties.
Okay? And of those 18 counties, is the Delta, Mississippi. Those 18 counties are very well known for the lack of hospitals, the lack of health access, the lack of. health infrastructure in those communities, those communities are also very high for maternal morbidity as well as infant morbidity when it comes to maternal health.
those communities are very behind when it comes to, access for just healthy living for individuals. And so, when I was looking at those particular areas to, you know, expand my research company. I did not see any sites that were out there, really providing the work.
Dr. Ren: There
Dr. Jazmine Crain: are some, universities and there are other local, institutions that are trying to bring trials to those that are needed in those communities.
Mm-hmm. But it is not very prevalent and not many know about it.
Dr. Ren: Yeah. and they're still far away, right? Because we were
Dr. Jazmine Crain: very, very far away. Yes. About like
Dr. Ren: the closest things, or the closest, locations are like Jacksonville, which is still quite a bit away.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. Yeah. So some of the
Dr. Ren: cities in the Delta.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. So Mississippi has three main metropolitan areas. That's Jackson, Mississippi, which is the capital, Gulfport, Mississippi, which is towards the coast, and then up in the Hattiesburg area as well. And so those areas are very, populated with clinics and healthcare systems. that can, you know,
give to their population or provide, care to their populations. But as you get in towards the delta of Mississippi, there's not a lot of clinics out there. There are some counties within the Delta that do not have any hospitals. There are actually seven counties within Mississippi that does not have any clinics or hospitals.
And so, that's very, very. Tragic. And for those who are seeking help, they will have to travel, like I said, to these metropolitan areas that can be either 75 miles plus just to get there. So, if they're in an emergency or if they need some dire care, they really have to travel very far to get to some of these metropolitan areas that can provide them the care that they need.
Dr. Ren: I can't even believe that is the case. And yes. 2025. that there's no hospitals, and I know that, yes. I mean, this is a, big topic I guess in clinical research, like the rural areas where yes, not much there. Um mm-hmm. People have to travel. But we really have to figure out an answer.
Right. The solution to help, because we can't forget about them. I feel like. this area of Mississippi has been forgotten.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Right?
Dr. Ren: Almost. Like, does it feel like that because you're there,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: right?
Dr. Ren: , is that the feeling that. Now
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I'm, located more in Central Mississippi, but I have traveled to the Delta.
I have family in the Delta. Mm-hmm. And just going out to visit family and just going out to the Delta for certain events that I do attend. It does feel like there has been. No progress there. And over however many years, the Delta has, been there. So it's just, whenever I go down there, I really seem like I go back in time.
there's a lot of planes. So the delta is made up a lot of planes. Yeah. due to the, the river coming through. but outside of those plans, there's not a lot of infrastructure.
Mm-hmm. but there's a lot of, our diverse populations that still live out there that, you know, still live in those areas, but those areas are not being, developed along with the population that is out there.
Dr. Ren: and that's exactly what I was headed to, is
Dr. Jazmine Crain: mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: What percentage of black and brown people are there? What percentage would you say?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I would say it's a large percentage that is out there. Mississippi, out of the 82 Mississippi counties, there is 65 that is rural, so that's like over 53% of Mississippi live in those rural areas.
So just thinking about the Delta alone. May have majority of those 53% of in Mississippi living out there, but they're not able to get to the care that some of the mississippians that live in, you know, central North or South Mississippi gets.
Dr. Ren: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: It sounds
Dr. Ren: like to me that, we're missing a whole group of people there.
Yes. the. Problem that we're having in research is the lack of diversity, which is of course mm-hmm. Diverse research now was created.
Mm-hmm. and so my solution, uh, one of our solutions is to actually go to the areas.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm. Like
Dr. Ren: basically go to the areas where. There are black, our black and brown people live.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes, yes. Where they
Dr. Ren: are and share this information. However, I'm thinking, we come out there, we share the information because we're gonna do something soon. Like we wanna definitely have an yes.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: Very soon.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm. But
Dr. Ren: I feel like we come out there, we give the information, and then where do we send them?
that's the next piece.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: That's yes. Where,
Dr. Ren: where are we sending them for? To get the research done or for them to get involved in the research. Mm-hmm. That's what we want. Right, exactly. We want them
Dr. Jazmine Crain: to get
Dr. Ren: involved in the research, get involved in the solutions. Because we know that. Most of us, black and brown people, we're the ones who's taking all these medications that are Are being developed. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Like our, unfortunately, like our community. Yeah. We're the ones who have all the ailments and the issues where medications are needed. So we have to, of course, you know, I constantly say this, like, we have to get them involved. Yes.
It sounds like that would be a good place to go. so I definitely want to see your site to see succeed in this and Yes. And getting, and really getting, our black and brown communities involved in research. what are some of the strategies you plan to, take on. as you start to recruit for your studies.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: So recently, this past week, I just, attended a Mississippi Healthy Conference put on by the Mississippi State Department of Health. And I ran into, well, I connected with so many organizations, individuals who were all really in that. Mississippi Delta area and there were so many, questions about how can we get this research started or this clinical study started and making those connections really, really, motivated me to go out there and, start my clinical research initiative and the mission to.
Improve Mississippi participation in clinical trials.
Dr. Ren: And so I plan on adding to that still continue going out to these events, these community events as well. I wanna go to the churches, I wanna go to the town halls. I wanna really hear from the people and see what their pain points are.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yeah. I do have some other community events lined up that I will be attending as well, just sharing the education about clinical research, the benefits of clinical research, and, how would you want clinical research to solve a issue for you? Because I know there are a lot of. trials out there that we can really specialize to the population or the community, and I really wanna hear what it is that, they feel that they not getting enough care for or enough care in.
And so I wanna go out there, I wanna do the work, I wanna put the boots on the ground in order to bring the community, the health and the, treatment methods that they are needing and that they require.
Dr. Ren: Yeah, no, I am super interested. you are the first voice of. A Mississippian, on voices of inclusive research.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Nice. So, but not a lot
Dr. Ren: because I am very interested in bringing their voice to, my audience. Yes. And including like pharma, the community, people need to hear their voice. Yes. In Mississippi and the Delta, and so we can understand what they need and so we, yes. Start to try to address their needs.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Exactly, because just attending these events, like I'm getting a lot of, people.
Engaging with me over clinical research. once I first got into this, I was really scared
Dr. Ren: mm-hmm. That,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: you know, I was gonna get a lot of backlash or just a lot of scrutiny towards the research and the myth of research, especially, in a diverse population in which I'm living now. But you would be amazed at the questions that people have and.
The knowledge that they want to know. And that just continues to motivate me to go out and do the work that I do. Because the work that I do is going to help someone. I know that if I can only help one person, I've done the work that I wanted to do, and there are people out there now, know, after speaking and connecting with others that I know that are welding, you that the treatment, the care that we could bring in clinical research.
Dr. Ren: Oh my goodness. we already had a conversation before this. We know that we speak the same language right now. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. We're very passionate about Yes. About this, getting this information out to our community.
and you are seeing the same thing. I'm seeing the same thing.
Diverse research now is, continues to say is people are hungry for this information. They want the information. So you wonder, it is a wonder like why we've had such a problem with recruiting diverse populations.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: That's okay. We know that that's been a problem. Fine. But we are solution based and we wanna bring solutions to this problem.
We don't. Dwell on the problem. Mm-hmm. But we wanna mm-hmm. Come up with solutions. Solutions that seem to work for us is to go to the people, go to the people, share the information. Mm-hmm. They are hungry for it.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: And they will sign up. I mean, really now everyone's not gonna lie. You know? You're not gonna get everyone to sign up and that's fine.
You know what I mean? Because, you never know. Everyone's different. Everyone has a story, so, and it's fine. However, they still should learn about it. I always say to people like, even if you're not ready to get involved in the research, it's still really good knowledge to have.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: A little while ago I was talking to someone who was, from an another community, white person. and they said that, one of the things in their community when they get diagnosed with a new condition, like clinical trials is something that they actually think about in that community.
That's like one of the first things That they would think about. Now. Now, I'm not saying that in the whole community, Yeah.
Dr. Ren: But they, I feel like, as we know, most clinical trials have been done amongst white men. And so they are aware of it. Right. because they have been in these trials.
Well, in our community, when we're diagnosed with something. That's not the first thing that we think about. We don't exactly like, honestly, it's usually like the last thing, from my experience, recently I've had a few people, who have been dealing with disease.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: And I've mentioned to them like, Hey, would you like to join a clinical trial?
Or are you interested in learning about one? Mm-hmm. They say No.
They usually come back to me once they find out that they've been on a treatment and it hasn't been working. And so when something is not working, that's when I usually see that people are coming back to say like, oh, well yeah, maybe I can, I should try a trial. I don't want it to get to that place.
Like people need to know and start that trial before it gets to the place where they're going through all these treatments and they're not working. Mm-hmm. Because a lot of times if you're going through a treatment that's not working, you're like, you've already suffered. You already now not saying that you won't suffer a bit, if, especially depending on the disease, right?
Mm-hmm. I just want our communities to understand their options and see the value in this upfront. Yes. And to be able to make a decision and an informed decision upfront. Mm-hmm. About their care.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. and I guess my question, have you ever asked that particular individual, what stopped them from.
Going through the clinical trial, the initial time they learned about it?
Dr. Ren: Yeah. I think that we have a lot of faith in our doctors. Mm-hmm. The medication that is out on the market right now, the standard of care. Mm-hmm. we have a lot of faith in that. And a lot of times it's because, hey, we're thinking, okay, this specialist, they know what they're doing.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: however, this is a big one. a lot of these diseases have not been researched very well. Mm-hmm. then not just not researched very well, but not researched in our communities.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: So another huge reason why diverse research now exists is because, when someone that looks like you has not been in this study for this drug that you're taking.
Dr. Ren: how really do you know if it's going to work for you?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: That's
Dr. Ren: true. You know, we always wanna stay hopeful, of course, but how do you know? And there's been many drugs that have come to market that are less effective in black and brown people because they were not in the study.
Dr. Jazmine Crain:
Dr. Ren: when you think about it, it's super scary.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes, yes.
Dr. Ren: To think like, wait a minute. I have this disease and the drug that I'm taking was never tested on anyone that looked like me. And they're expecting this. they're just trying to see if this is gonna work for me.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: So it's just, I think about the work that has to be done, in our community around this. It's overwhelming. We talked about this.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: How overwhelming the work. Yes.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: and I don't think, and just going back to what you said about the specialists, you know, we put a lot of trust in our providers and our physicians.
Yeah. Yes. We also have to work with the community to build that trust. But also I found, you know, in my journey that also working with the community leaders and physicians and getting them on board. Can also mean tremendous, efforts for getting the community and the other populations on board too.
Mm-hmm. there's a lot of research naive physicians in my local area in Mississippi as a whole,
Dr. Ren: and
Dr. Jazmine Crain: so just. At the top, them not knowing, not having any knowledge can definitely have trickle down effects, to their patients and the population that they serve. And so not only, doing the work.
For the population and the people, but also doing the work with providers and, you know, having them to listen and actually seeing the benefits that, clinical research could bring and how it could supplement their practice or, whatever their, care is for their community. it's tremendous and can definitely help move that needle forward.
Dr. Ren: and not to see it as competition.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: A lot of times, I'm hearing that the doctors, are seeing research as competition.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Or
Dr. Ren: like they don't want the research study to take their patients and
Dr. Jazmine Crain: mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: Crazy. Like, what, first of all, why are we doing this? Like, we're doing this to help people. Right,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: right.
Dr. Ren: Oh, that's the case. That's the case. Like, and I know, I mean, maybe that's not the case all the time, but overall, I think everyone, we wanna help people.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: That's why I do it. That's why you do it.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: and so.
Dr. Ren: you are so right. Mm-hmm. It is not just about educating the community. We have to educate the doctors as well.
Yes. 'cause a lot of times that is a big barrier. Yes. Because the doctors that are seeing the sick patients that need to possibly, um, learn, not just, not even get involved, but at least learn about this study. Mm-hmm. Some way that we can come in and educate the doctors about the research.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: Since they're the ones who've seen the patients.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Right.
Dr. Ren: And even if they don't have time to share with the patient about the research, they can at least. Say like, Hey, I think this patient would be a good patient for this research study. Like maybe we should come in and talk Exactly. Something that diverse research now could do.
That's something that we do do. we have safe space meetings where we can talk to the participant or potential participant about research and the possibility of that research. again, bridging the gap. You know, taking the patient from the doctor's office, sitting them down in that gap area to, to talk with them about the research, the possibilities, inform them.
Mm-hmm. Let the decision. Mm-hmm. And if they wanna go through and go through that tunnel and go to the other side to research, then great. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That's great. But we have to get them in that middle place.
And I think that is so important there. There definitely has to be more work in that space.
And so we're definitely willing to do it, and I'm sure you are as well.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes, yes. I, I enjoy going to talk to, research clinics or even just regular healthcare community clinics. I love going to have lunch and learns and just really seeing, you know, where. Community healthcare providers are when it comes to research.
what their behaviors are when it comes to research, you know, their feelings towards research. Yep. A lot of people are not interested in research and I get that, but you know, like you were saying, that patient-centric approach. Yeah. Always putting the patient first. Yep. Is the, should be the motivation and the driver of getting into clinical research and getting your, patients.
The healthcare that they deserve, actually. So I love just, communicating and networking with other healthcare providers. Just, to tell them about research and if they haven't tried it or if they haven't heard about it, you know, just to do a little bit of research on it. Exactly. And then, you know, see, you know, the benefits that it can bring to their patient population.
Dr. Ren: Yeah. And we even have a model for that because I do feel like. Looking into all of this is a lot. It canbe overwhelming to mm-hmm. Look into like the research options and then a lot of times you don't find anything, then what do you do? It's so that's why our model at diverse research now, we really.
Have built a model to really walk people through this whole journey. It is a journey. Mm-hmm. It can be a journey. because, a lot of our participants that we, help and we, help to find research studies for some of them don't find a study. Ah, but they're still interested.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: that is something that, I think we have to recognize
Dr. Jazmine Crain: when we can engage the community there's a community member that's actually saying like, yeah, I'm interested. Find me a study. And then we can't find them a study. We don't just let them go. We don't just leave them by the wayside because look, it could be down the line where we can find them a study.
Dr. Ren: So that's another place where diverse research now comes in at where we continue the engagement.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Regardless
Dr. Ren: if they're in a study or not.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: You
Dr. Ren: know what I mean? there has to be continued engagement, so. That time does come,
They're ready. Mm-hmm. They are. They know all they need to know about research and they're ready. You know what I mean? So,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: yes. Yes. And I was just saying like even during that time of getting studies, they're still learning. So much about the process of research, it's so many different integral parts and components to research and just learning, from phase zero all the way to phase four.
It's just exactly, it's a lot. And so, just taking people and walking them through that process and, maybe just. Taking 'em slower or the time that it takes to get a study. You know, they're still getting information over time, so that's still great to keep that engagement going. 'cause still they're learning and that's,
great.
Dr. Ren: I really think that that's key.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes, exactly.
Dr. Ren: To making change in the field. Yes. I really think that's key. We continue to say we cannot come to the community at the time where you're recruiting for that study.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Exactly. I can continue
Dr. Ren: to engage with them and share with them what give back to them.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: Before that study even starts and I continue to, say that
we have a lot of community members that listens in on our podcast. before we get outta here. Yes. Tell me what would you want to share with the community? we have people listening all over.
what do you want, black and brown community to know about research? Like what would, what do you share out there in the community when you're out there, when you're talking to people? What is your message? that kind hits home?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I would say the more we get involved in research The more. Beneficial, the methods and the treatments will be for us. I always lead with, the myth behind research. I never sugarcoat that.I always put that first and foremost. 'cause I understand. the historical context behind research when it comes to, the diverse populations, the black and brown populations.
So I always lead with that. But then I always, take them through the process of where we've, gone from that, where we've, advanced from that. And now we're at a point in history now where. There are technological advances, there are methodological advances. There are medicinal advances now that could, benefit us, but now we have to participate.
Now we have to, come from that to a more inclusive, research time. and that's now. That's not gonna be anytime later if we don't do the work now, it will never come. And so that's what I try to stress to the community around me, that, you know, in order to progress, in order to get things more tailored for our community, we're gonna have to step up, be the voice, be the reason.
So, I always try to motivate, those around me and my community to, take part in. getting what they want outta their healthy life. I know, you know, we don't get enough resources in this area, so, we have to take what we can get. So we can take whole and we can take control of our health down the line if we continue to participate in these studies where, you know, they can understand the disease and conditions for us.
So that's my message to the community.
Dr. Ren: Yep. Yep. For us.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
And so, because we talked about not just speaking to the community, but speaking mm-hmm. To the other side as well.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: So, I like to ask that question as well. What is your message to the other side? the researchers pharma?
Um, yes. That's doing, putting these protocols together, what is the message for them?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: My message for pharma researchers of all sorts, let's just not do talking. Let's just do the work. Let's go into these areas that we say that are left out or that are forgotten about, and let's include them.
there's. Enough people trying to pick and choose, who they want out of these areas, but there's really no one down, in these areas doing the work. Yeah. So, you know, as an independent site owner, I wanna do more than just, talk about the inclusivity of diverse populations.
I want to include them.
Dr. Ren: Yes.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: So therefore I'm going to go include them and I would like. the motivation for other researchers and pharmaceutical companies to, actually include those sites in there, or, you know, try to get sites up and running out in those areas so we can get that patient data so we can improve, the methods towards diverse population.
So just. The message would be just, going out there doing the work, building the infrastructure, helping these communities in the way that, we say that we want to
Dr. Ren: Yep. And partner with sites like yours.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. Yes. Your site. Exactly.
Dr. Ren: Your site is in a location.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: Location is huge.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Dr. Ren: And, sometimes you see that, sponsors, End up picking the same locations.
yes. But need to include other locations, especially locations where the diverse populations are,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: are, yes. Your
Dr. Ren: site. so tell us again where your site is. And, kind of the percentage of black and brown people who are in your site, 'cause those would be your participants.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. So I don't have a physical location as of now. Mm-hmm. but I am operating out of Jackson, Mississippi. That is central Mississippi. Okay. Jackson has the highest population for black, African Americans. In the state. So I am working within a diverse local, population within my local area, but I also look to service other areas such as the Delta and Mississippi, where it has, a lot of rural areas, that has a lot of poverty.
there is multiple diverse populations out there that is undergoing, Scarce healthcare access. And so I definitely want to bring my services out to those areas and work with those community services centers. And the hospitals that may be out there that wants to provide clinical studies, I would really love to work with them and get, clinical research in that area up and running and servicing.
those populations.
Dr. Ren: So it makes so much sense. I what I see is you having a site in Jackson. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: You
Dr. Ren: find a location soon, have a site in Jackson, but then you're able to go out to the rural areas mm-hmm. Have events.
Partner with the local, clinics there.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: And start up satellite sites and
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes.
Yes.
Dr. Ren: and it's a need.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. It's a huge need. Yes.
Dr. Ren: It's a huge need in this location.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mm-hmm. So, mm-hmm. That
Dr. Ren: makes so much sense to me. So I commend you. Thank you.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: And
Dr. Ren: we are here to help. So as soon as we can, let's get on the schedule with a yes date, so we can have an event.
start the work, Yes. We have to start somewhere. We might not have all the resources and everything in place, but it has to start somewhere.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Exactly. So,
Dr. Ren: and, honestly, when I started diverse research now, I didn't have much before I started.
Mm-hmm. but I just started, yes. I just started getting the information out there. that's a great place to start, just to start getting the information out.
yes. So once you get your site up and going, once you're ready to recruit and have those, you know, people are, you got a whole list.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I got a whole Yes, yes.
Dr. Ren: Of people. That's
Dr. Jazmine Crain: exactly,
Dr. Ren: that's ready to go, to be involved in research and yes,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: I'm already building those relationships. Yes. That's important
Dr. Ren: in the, Location that needs it most, needs
Dr. Jazmine Crain: it. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Ren: the population that needs it most. Yes, yes. So I'm super excited about this.
I haven't been to Mississippi in a long time. My, my family is from Mississippi. Uh huh the migration to, like, we, our family, my family was one that migrated to Chicago, way back when.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. So that's how
Dr. Ren: I ended up in Chicago. But, and I
Dr. Jazmine Crain: got family in Chicago too. Yeah.
Dr. Ren: Okay. Yes. So, but I remember, going back to Mississippi.
Mm-hmm. I believe my great-grandmother and my great-grandfather was from school. Stocks or Starkville,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Mississippi? Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. Starkville, yes.
Dr. Ren: Uhhuh. And that's where we used to travel back to. We used to all, mm-hmm. My grandpa's, well we call 'em big daddy. My big daddy, uh, station wagon. The station wagon travel down to Mississippi.
Yeah. I dunno if, I guess it was maybe in the summers or something. always in the summer. Always in summer, all the cousins would get in. big daddy, station wagon. Uhhuh, Uhhuh, our big mom would have us some fried chicken. Wrapped up for the.
And, and we would drive down there. And that's a memory of mine of Mississippi. Oh,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: that is so beautiful.
Dr. Ren: later on as an adult, I used to fellowship with a church mm-hmm. In Mississippi. Mm-hmm. so I probably haven't been there in years. Mm-hmm. Probably since I came to, like, I used to come to church, services down there.
But other than that, I haven't been to Mississippi in a long time. My, niece went to Jacksonville on Mississippi. she Jackson?
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Just Jackson. It's Jackson, Mississippi.
Dr. Ren: Jackson. not Jacksonville, Jackson. Yeah.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: That's in Florida.
Dr. Ren: Jackson State. Ah, yes, yes, yes. So, but she actually didn't like it. She actually didn't like it.
She end up coming back to Chicago. so I don't know, but a mission of, diverse research now, again, is to go where our community is. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: And
Dr. Ren: know that black and brown communities are. The South, like, yes, we're in Mississippi, we're in Georgia, we're in Texas. most of us in this country, the US are down there.
Mm-hmm. it's a big percentage of us. That's where we live.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: That's where we are. Yes. Yeah.
Dr. Ren: Yes. And so that's where we gonna have to go. Yes. That's, I mean, I just so happen to be in California, but I'm very serious about getting the message out to my people and sharing this to my people.
So I'm super excited about this connection. Mm-hmm. and the possibilities. and we just gonna do it.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. Yes. we gonna do the work? Yes. And we're gonna get it up and going in Mississippi. I'm very excited. I'm very passionate. I'm very motivated. I know this is something that my state needs.
This is something that we deserve. We deserve to live a healthier lifestyle. Yep. You know, although there's not a lot of resources we can, build on our resources, We can create our own resources here. there's so much opportunity in Mississippi, a lot of people think, there's not a lot going on.
But for those who are passionate about the state, for those who wanna see the state live a healthier lifestyle, I feel like, the possibilities are endless. We just need, the right people in the right places to do, the good work that needs to be done.
Dr. Ren: Yep. Yep. So. Before we get outta here, we just want all the sponsors to know that's listening, all the pharmaceuticals, researchers to know like, hey, diverse research now and covalent.
am I saying it right? Covalent. Covalent. Covalent,
Dr. Jazmine Crain: yes. Covalent
Dr. Ren: clinical research. Research. Mm-hmm. We're coming together to do Yeah, the bond. Yeah. We're coming together to do some work in, Mississippi Delta. Yes. Yes. Central Mississippi and extending out to the Delta Uhhuh a place that is very much, this work is very much needed.
Yes. So we ask you to come and, support us and please help us in this work.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Yes. We need it. We need you.
Dr. Ren: So, so, alright, well thank you so much Dr. Crane. I really thank you. Appreciate you. this is such a rich conversation, so needed. I'm so happy that we had this conversation. It needs, I'm excited to get this out, information out to the audience to let them know like, Hey,
the time is now. We gotta, the
time is now. Yes. Yes. It's time to start talking and just let's do, I'm very proactive, so Good. Once I get an idea and I get a little support, I'm all for it. I'm all for it. Okay. Well thank you so much. Thank you. And we'll, you guys, expect to see us out there and,
thank you so much and have a great day.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Thank you so much Dr. Jones. Have a great day.
Dr. Ren: Bye-bye.
Dr. Jazmine Crain: Bye-bye.
