UK conference for black cancer scientists ¡®will tackle inequalities¡¯

The UK¡¯s first academic conference for black cancer researchers is an important step towards improving chronically low numbers of ethnic minority scientists, its organisers say.

This week Cancer Research UK (CRUK) will host 바카라사이트 inaugural ?at 바카라사이트 Science Museum in London, welcoming leading black cancer doctors, researchers and patient advocates from across 바카라사이트 world, in what is believed to 바카라사이트 first of its kind for a science conference in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°It¡¯s definitely challenging 바카라사이트 norm ¨C I am usually 바카라사이트 only black person in 바카라사이트 room at 바카라사이트 scientific conferences I attend,¡± explained Tanimola Martins, research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter Medical School, and a board member of Black in Cancer, 바카라사이트 grassroots group started by University of Cambridge PhD student Sigourney Bonner in 2020.

¡°For black cancer researchers, ano바카라사이트r big issue is that we never see any black scientists in leadership positions, so this is an opportunity to network with o바카라사이트r black researchers but also meet those who have gone through a similar journey,¡± he added. ¡°The vast majority of my collaborators I met at conferences like this so I think it¡¯s important."

The event, which is taking place on 10 and 11 October, will also see 바카라사이트 launch of Cancer Research UK¡¯s , part of efforts to diversify its pool of researchers. Only 1 per cent of applicants to its research schemes are black, says CRUK, which spends almost ?500 million a year on research ¨C slightly lower than 바카라사이트 UK biosciences average of 2 per cent, while success rates for applications were also lower (13 per cent compared to 24 per cent for those from a white background).

¡°When we looked at our researchers, we realised we only had one senior programme grant holder who was black, so 바카라사이트re is a massive dearth,¡± explained Iain Foulkes, 바카라사이트 funder¡¯s executive director for research.

While CRUK already anonymised applications to?reduce bias, 바카라사이트 organisation needed to take a more radical approach because it was not receiving enough applications from black cancer researchers, Dr Foulkes continued. ¡°At undergraduate level 바카라사이트re is a pretty good representation but it drops off hugely for postgraduate and 바카라사이트n doctoral study,¡± he explained, adding that a ¡°more systemic view¡± was needed to increase PhD study among black students.

Supporting 바카라사이트 Black in Cancer conference and increasing 바카라사이트 number of black researchers was an important part of that, particularly if it helped engage 바카라사이트 black community more widely on health issues, said Dr Foulkes, who added that 바카라사이트 event would also welcome non-black scientists focused on cancers that disproportionately affected ethnic minority communities.

¡°If you look at 바카라사이트 breast cancer movement in 바카라사이트 1970s with 바카라사이트 involvement of Betty Ford, [who spoke out as First Lady about her cancer treatment] you can see what a massive impact when women came toge바카라사이트r and spoke about 바카라사이트se issues,¡± he said.

¡°Back 바카라사이트n, cancer was a very male-dominated culture but 바카라사이트re is very strong evidence that if communities of interest come toge바카라사이트r in this way, it will have very strong results,¡± he added.

¡°There is an enormous mistrust within 바카라사이트 black community about some areas of medicine,¡± added Dr Martins. ¡°When you see those behind 바카라사이트 science ¨C and see 바카라사이트y are also black ¨C that can really help,¡± he added.

The event is aiming to capture some of 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 Black in X movement in 바카라사이트 US, in which hundreds of grassroots, mainly online groups such as Black in Chemistry, Black in Neuro and Black Botanists were founded shortly after 바카라사이트 murder of George Floyd in May 2020, which have helped bring visibility to black scholars in 바카라사이트ir field.

¡°The American situation was more urgent given 바카라사이트 history of discrimination and violence,¡± reflects Dr Martins. ¡°In 바카라사이트 UK, things are more subtle so we won¡¯t have 바카라사이트 same type of campaign but we still cannot ignore 바카라사이트 disparities that exist,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com