Black History Month: hearing the voices of the community

To mark Black History Month, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) presented two panels highlighting the contribution of research teams to the health of black communities, and the careers of people from the black community who study and work in research.

These conferences provided an opportunity for discussion and reflection on issues such as representation and inclusion of black people in research and clinical practice, and actions and approaches that can be taken collectively and individually to improve support for professional and student success.

The health of black communities at heart

Moderated by Mame-Kany Diop, research professional at the CRCHUM, the first panel, composed of Dr. Dominique Trudel, Dr. Saima Hassan, Dr. Christian Stapf and Geneviève Gagné, revealed how the health of black people and communities, an understudied population, has taken a key place in their research.

“We know that stroke is the leading cause of disability in the population. But the biology of stroke is different between black and Caucasian people. Taking an interest in the health of black communities is a scientific breakthrough,” says Dr. Stapf, a vascular neurologist at the CHUM and researcher at the CRCHUM.

“In the black community, patients are younger, the incidence of stroke is higher and treatments are different. Adapting our clinical practices is essential.”

These comments echo those of Geneviève Gagné, a specialist in early intervention in psychosis at the CHUM: “In the general population, the rate of psychosis is about 3%. In black communities, it’s twice as high. Improving the quality of care and follow-up for these people is essential.”

Dr. Hassan also reports a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer in black women. A fact that leads her to say that there is still a lot of research to be done if we are to make a difference to the lives of these people.

Specifically, Dr. Stapf and Dr. Stéphanie Forté, a researcher at CRCHUM and a haematologist at CHUM, have set up a clinical stroke programme focused on black communities. Through this programme, nearly 500 people with sickle cell disease will be recruited to participate in specific research projects.

CRCHUM researcher and CHUM pathologist Dr. Dominique Trudel’s interest in the health of black communities have led her to establish collaborations with Guadeloupe and Senegal.

Together with scientists from these countries, they hope in particular to better define the incidence rate of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate, an aggressive form of prostate cancer, in black communities.

Geneviève Gagné, Dr Christian Stapf, Dre Dominique Trudel, Dre Saima Hassan, Mame-Kany Diop

Daring careers in research

In the second panel, four people from the black community, studying or working in research, highlighted the diversity of their backgrounds and experiences.

Through their personal accounts, they hope to inspire younger generations to enter the field of research.

The panel was moderated by Farrah Jean-Paul, human resources advisor at the CRCHUM.

“In the community, there is still a lot of ignorance and scepticism. Everyone comes into contact with nurses and doctors, but not many researchers,” says Manuela Mbacfou Temgoua, research coordinator at the CRCHUM (Dr. Julie Bruneau’s team).

“There is still a certain mistrust of research, which has historically been misused by white doctors, for example, to test drugs on black people without their consent.”

Whether it’s Edisond Florial, a doctor in residence at CHUM, Mawussi Adjakly, a nurse clinician at CRCHUM (Dr. Julie Bruneau’s team) or Damehan Tchelougou, a doctoral student in researcher Francis Rodier’s team, each panellist has met people along the way who have acted as mentors and allies, encouraging them to persevere.

In turn, the panellists hope to motivate young people in black communities, inviting them to dare, to have confidence and to take their place in science.