In cancer research, raising diversity, equity and inclusion in the lab often corresponds to more broadly applicable results that could, one day, help more patients.Credit: sanjeri/Getty Images
Published December 2021
Disparities in health outcomes between Black and white women exist across nearly all diseases, a truth made all the more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. In breast cancer patients, disparities in mortality rates have been documented for decades, and today, Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite similar incidence rates.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a not-for-profit dedicated to funding and advancing translational and clinical research into breast cancer, has long been committed to understanding the causes of such disparities. The organization is determined to expand the diversity of scientists performing breast cancer research and address inequality among scientists.
The leaders at BCRF recognized that success would depend on establishing meaningful collaborations, and they identified Nature Portfolio as one of them. In a widely read Nature editorial, the authors wrote, “Together with the rest of the research community, we must listen, reflect, learn and act — and we must never shirk our responsibility to end systemic racism.”
In that spirit, BCRF partnered with Nature Portfolio to provide historically Black colleges and universities with a Nature Masterclass on scientific writing and publishing. Dorraya El-Ashry, BCRF’s chief scientific officer, called this partnership part of the organization’s “efforts to diversify the scientific workforce.”
In October, Alexia-Ileana Zaromytidou, Chief Editor of Nature Cancer, and Laurie Dempsey, Senior Editor at Nature Immunology, ran Masterclasses for 30 researchers at Clark Atlanta University, Florida A&M University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Spelman College, and Xavier University of Louisiana.
“These interactive and engaging workshops provide the tools, techniques, and strategies that help researchers develop their skills, confidence, and careers while improving the quality of the researchers’ publication output,” El-Ashry explains. “When training and resources are available, authors can overcome a few key barriers by understanding scientific writing and the publishing process, and the importance of effective data sharing and management.”
Diverse partners, diverse efforts
To increase the success of diverse cancer researchers, BCRF is working with long-time partners at Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, and the American Association for Cancer Research. Together, they are providing career-development grants for early to mid-career investigators who are members of racial or ethnic groups traditionally excluded in biomedical research, and who wish to conduct original breast cancer research that’s not currently funded.
BCRF has also joined the Tigerlily Foundation Diversity and Inclusion Pledge for Women of Color to participate in advocacy initiatives, namely panels, programmes, advisory boards and planning committees, that enhance the experience of Black women. Specifically, BCRF pledges to ensure diversity within its organization, and raise awareness of the benefits of participating in clinical trials among Black women.
In addition to establishing partnerships, BCRF has continued its core mission to fund research on breast cancer. On October 1, 2021, BCRF announced a $47.5 million commitment to fund 250 scientists around the world. This research will range from the basic biology of breast cancer to improving a patient’s quality of life. As El-Ashry explains, “This support allows the world’s leading thought leaders to pursue their most innovative ideas and facilitates collaborations across disciplines to advance the field’s most promising research in breast cancer.”