Research has shown that racial biases can be built into medical products, leading to misdiagnoses, inaccurate readings, and delays in therapy. Pulse oximeters calibrated to lighter skin color caused underestimates of the severity of COVID-19; infrared thermometers calibrated to lighter skin color gave inaccurately low temperature readings, causing under-diagnosis and delaying treatment of COVID among darker-skinned populations. In this session, experts will discuss how R&D processes can embed equity considerations from the start, not as an afterthought. They will also review the role of digital health in closing gaps in health outcomes, and the potential for real-world data to enhance understanding of the needs and experiences of under-represented communities.