In celebration of Pride Month, we will do our part to mitigate the lack of diversity in research. We have rebranded our Army of Women to now be known as Love Research Army: an inclusive program numbering nearly 900,000 individuals working to make breast cancer research as diverse as those who present with the disease.
Our program goals include rallying the LGBTQIA+ community to join the army and participate in studies so that they are inclusive of all people who get breast cancer.
Researchers have long documented how different diseases appear at a greater frequency in certain populations with recent data indicating that African American women are 42 percent more likely to die of breast cancer, as compared to their white counterparts. We also know that breast cancer disproportionately affects transgender individuals.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, health disparities are linked to race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual preference and presentation. Health disparities have continued despite extensive research and mandates to eliminate them. Disparities are reflected in the methods researchers use to study disease. Recent data indicates that less than 5% of cancer patients are enrolled in clinical trials, and surprisingly only 10% of those people are minorities. Over-representation in disease and under-representation in research is a recipe for continued inequality.
At the Dr. Susan Love Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, people are our greatest asset. We are focused on fostering a vibrant culture where everyone is respected and has a sense of belonging. This enables us to successfully collaborate, innovate, and achieve our mission to end breast cancer.
To show our support for Pride Month, we’re giving all donors in the month of June a Pride LOVE sticker! Click here to make a donation.
