Black Heritage Month

By IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Feb 14, 2025

In recognition of Black Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of Black scientists who have significantly advanced our work today. We also acknowledge the ongoing cancer health disparities that continue to affect Black communities.

Learn about some of the Black American scientists who have made significant contributions to cancer research, health disparities, and medical advancements that directly or indirectly benefit cancer patients.

Dr. Otis Brawley (born 1952)
Dr. Brawley, an oncologist, has been a prominent advocate for addressing cancer health disparities in Black American communities. He has pushed for better access to early cancer screenings and treatments for underserved populations (American Cancer Society, 2020).

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett (born 1986)
Dr. Corbett played a pivotal role in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Her background in immunology and vaccine research has implications for cancer immunotherapy, including vaccine-based strategies to treat cancers caused by viruses such as HPV (National Institutes of Health, 2021).

Dr. Charles Drew (1904–1950)
Known as the “Father of the Blood Bank,” Dr. Drew's work in blood banking and transfusion medicine indirectly benefited cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy. His innovations in blood plasma preservation have saved countless lives, including cancer patients requiring transfusions (National Library of Medicine, 2020).

Dr. Joan Reede (born 1952)
Dr. Reede's work has focused on health equity and cancer care access for underrepresented groups. She has worked to improve the representation of Black Americans in clinical trials and cancer research (Harvard Medical School, 2020).

Cancer health disparities are a pressing issue that affects various racial and ethnic groups differently. Among these, Black Americans face significant inequities in cancer incidence, mortality and access to care. This discrepancy is influenced by a combination of socio-economic factors, healthcare access and systemic challenges.

• Higher cancer incidence rates: Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer (American Cancer Society, 2024).
•  Higher mortality rates: Black men have the highest cancer death rate among all racial or ethnic groups, and Black women have higher breast cancer mortality rates despite lower incidence (American Cancer Society, 2024).
• Specific cancers: Black men face higher rates of prostate cancer diagnoses and mortality, while Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer, particularly aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer. Black Americans also have higher rates of colorectal cancer and tend to be diagnosed at later stages (National Cancer Institute, 2022; American Cancer Society, 2024).

• Late-stage diagnosis: Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages, reducing the effectiveness of treatment and overall survival rates (American Cancer Society, 2024).
•  Access to care and treatment disparities: Significant barriers to healthcare, including lack of health insurance and limited access to cancer screenings, contribute to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes (American Cancer Society, 2024).
• Health care system challenges: Discrimination and unequal treatment within the healthcare system leads to worse outcomes for Black Americans, including less timely referrals for cancer screenings and participation in clinical trials (American Cancer Society, 2024).
• Socioeconomic factors: Lower socioeconomic status among Black Americans contributes to health disparities, impacting early detection, prevention and effective treatment of cancer (CDC, 2020).