A collaborative report published in 2021 in *Cell* by scientists from Sydney and New York highlights an urgent need to enhance diversity in the cell lines used for medical research. Currently, a staggering 65-95% of human cell lines are derived from individuals of European descent, raising concerns about the implications for precision medicine.

The commentary, titled “Ancestry Matters: Building Inclusivity into Preclinical Study Design,” is co-authored by Dr. Sophie Zaaijer, consultant and researcher for DEI in R&D and clinical trials and Dr. Amanda Capes-Davis from the Children’s Medical Research Institute. The authors argue that without immediate action, the lack of diverse cell lines could adversely affect treatment outcomes for non-European populations.

“Most commonly used cell lines were sourced in the 1960s and 1970s,” Dr. Zaaijer notes. “This historical oversight has systematically crept into biomedical research.”

The report emphasizes that certain diseases disproportionately affect specific communities. For instance, while prostate cancer rates are notably higher among African American men, only one in ten prostate cell lines used in research reflects this demographic. This gap could lead to missed opportunities for discovering effective treatments tailored to diverse populations.

The authors also address the historical mistrust some communities have towards medical research due to past ethical breaches. However, initiatives like those involving Māori communities in New Zealand demonstrate how respectful partnerships can foster trust and encourage participation in scientific discovery.

As the biomedical landscape evolves, new funding models and collaborative projects like Polyethnic-1000 aim to leverage New York City’s diverse population to improve cancer genomics and clinical care.

Dr. Zaaijer emphasizes the importance of using representative cell lines in drug discovery: “When you donate cells for research, wouldn’t you want them to contribute to effective treatments?”

In their report, the authors call on researchers, biobanks, publishers, and community representatives to take actionable steps towards improving diversity in medical research.

“Awareness of the problem is the first step toward finding solutions,” Dr. Capes-Davis concludes.