ALABAMA: Eight-year-old uses myopia diagnosis to help others like him
Fifth-grader Emory Carter and University of Alabama at Birmingham optometrist Katherine Weise are helping end the systemic exclusion of racial and ethnic minorities from clinical studies. Emory, the son of UAB medical school professor Hernando Carter, enthusiastically signed up to join Weise's clinical trial for a myopia treatment, with the elder Carter turning Emory’s nightly eye drops into a chance to tell him about “the impact he was making" by taking part in the research, which will "help others who look like us.”
UAB Eye Care is one of the 14 sites in the US funded by the NIH devoted to studying myopia and has the only federal funding to conduct pediatric research to study the effects of low-dose atropine to treat nearsightedness. The study is still ongoing and will wrap up in the fall of 2022.
“Participation in clinical trials should reflect our diverse population,” said Dr. Hernando Carter. “In order for racial and ethnic minorities to benefit from research, they need to be involved in every stage of the research process. When Emory and I were told about the clinical trial, we discussed the importance of the trial and the impact it could have on the Black community; but I ultimately left the decision up to him.”
Emory, motivated by his love for science and his community, made the decision to participate. His father says Emory’s participation in this study was about becoming an example for others, especially in the Black community, given the history of mistrust in the health care system.
“My goal going into this study was helping find the treatment for myopia not just for my son, but for others like him,” Carter said.