EDICT Project: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials

The EDICT project (Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials), funded under the Doctoral Networks (DN) scheme of the Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, is focused on advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in clinical trials.

Clinical trials involving human participants are a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine. However, participants enrolled in such studies often do not reflect the diversity of the population that will ultimately use the health interventions being investigated. The underrepresentation of certain population groups may therefore limit the applicability of research findings and contribute to inequalities in healthcare. For example, if a study includes only men and white participants, its findings may not necessarily be applicable to other population groups.

The EDICT project therefore brings together universities, research institutions, industry partners and other relevant stakeholders with the aim of developing new approaches to the inclusive design, conduct and reporting of clinical trials.

As EDICT is a Doctoral Network (DN), one of the project’s key objectives is to educate and train a new generation of researchers. Through interdisciplinary doctoral research, international mobility and collaboration with academic, clinical and industry partners, these researchers will develop methods and practical tools to promote greater inclusivity in clinical research.

Role of the Catholic University of Croatia

The Catholic University of Croatia (CUC) is one of the partners in the EDICT project and one of the host institutions for doctoral researchers trained within the project.

The Institutional Project Lead at CUC is Prof. Livia Puljak, MD, PhD, under whose supervision CUC will conduct two doctoral research projects within EDICT:

1. Mapping EDI Representation in European Clinical Trials
   Research examining the representation of equity, diversity and inclusion principles in European clinical trials, together with the development of indicators, recommendations and educational materials aimed at improving inclusivity in clinical research.

2. Stakeholder Perspectives on EDI in Clinical Trials
   Research examining the views and experiences of key clinical trial stakeholders—including researchers, ethics committees, funders and patients—with the aim of identifying barriers and developing practical recommendations for more inclusive clinical trials.
    

Key Project Information

Programme: Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Doctoral Networks
Grant Agreement No.: 101226601
Duration: 1 March 2026 – 28 February 2030
Coordinator: University of Galway, Ireland
Institutional Project Lead at CUC: Prof. Livia Puljak, MD, PhD
Project Manager at CUC: Gjino Šutić, MSc Med. Chem.
Official EDICT project website: https://edictproject.eu/about.html