As we commemorate Black History Month 2025, we recognize the 2025 theme “African Americans and Labor,” highlighting the transformative contributions of Black professionals across industries. Established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), this theme acknowledges the critical roles — paid and unpaid, skilled and unskilled — that African Americans have undertaken throughout history.
In the life sciences, Black scientists and medical pioneers have been instrumental in shaping modern medicine, from groundbreaking treatments to the technologies that power healthcare today. In this blog, we explore the legacy of Black trailblazers in science, spotlight modern leaders driving innovation and examine efforts to improve representation in clinical research and biotech leadership — while addressing ongoing challenges in equitable healthcare.
A Legacy of Trailblazers and Today’s Leaders
The contributions of Black innovators span generations. Their work has transformed medicine, technology and public health, proving that Black excellence in science is not just a moment in history but threaded into its very fabric.
Legacy Leaders Who Paved the Way
Dr. Sophia B. Jones (1857–1932): The first Black woman to graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Jones advocated for healthcare access for Black communities and established the nursing program at Spelman College, ensuring future generations of Black women entered the medical profession.
Dr. Charles Drew (1904–1950): A pioneering surgeon and researcher, Dr. Drew transformed blood banking by developing unique methods for storing and processing blood plasma, which remain critical to modern medicine.
Dr. Jane Cooke Wright (1919–2013): A groundbreaking oncologist, Dr. Wright pioneered chemotherapy research and developed methods for using human tissue cultures to test cancer drug efficacy, transforming cancer treatment worldwide.
Dr. Gladys West (born 1930): A mathematician whose work on satellite geodesy was instrumental in developing GPS, which is now used in navigation, geomedicine and real-time patient monitoring.
Modern Innovators Leading the Charge
Dr. Julie Makani: A Tanzanian medical researcher, Dr. Makani made groundbreaking contributions to sickle cell disease (SCD) research. As a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow and Associate Professor at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, she developed one of the largest SCD research cohorts in the world. In 2011, she received the Royal Society Pfizer Award for her efforts in advancing SCD treatment and awareness in Africa.
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett: A viral immunologist, Dr. Corbett played a pivotal role in developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, earning the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award for her contributions. As a researcher at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), she continues to focus on next-gen vaccines addressing global health disparities.
Dr. James Hildreth: As President of Meharry Medical College, Dr. Hildreth has led efforts to tackle racial health disparities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded community outreach programs to improve vaccine access, launching mobile vaccination clinics to ensure equitable healthcare distribution.
Dr. Selwyn Vickers: Now the CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Vickers has prioritized increasing Black representation in oncology research and clinical trials, expanding access to groundbreaking therapies for historically underserved populations.
These past and present leaders highlight the continuous thread of Black excellence in the life sciences — pushing boundaries, breaking barriers and driving innovation across generations.
Underrepresentation in Research — Disparities, Beliefs and Representation
Despite progress, significant underrepresentation persists in clinical trials, leadership roles and biotech entrepreneurship, affecting health outcomes and innovation equity.
This lack of diversity affects treatment efficacy and health equity, as factors like genetics, socioeconomic status and preexisting conditions impact medical responses. Expanding trial diversity ensures broader applicability of research and better patient outcomes.
Black participants remain underrepresented in critical areas of research, including oncology, despite experiencing higher mortality rates for certain cancers, as well as neurology and cardiovascular research, where conditions like Alzheimer’s and heart disease disproportionately affect Black communities.
An article by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) explored perceptions of clinical research among Black cancer patients, revealing that:
- 27% of Black participants agreed with the statement, “God determines wellness, not research,” compared to 8% of non-Black participants.
- 20% of Black participants believed that “medical research is designed to harm minorities,” while none of the non-Black participants shared this view.
- 25% of Black participants feared that research could reveal personal health information they didn’t want to know, versus 4% of non-Black participants.
These findings highlight that participation in clinical trials is not solely about access, but also shaped by personal beliefs, perceptions of research and historical mistrust within Black communities.
Key Efforts to Address These Disparities
Several companies have proactive in closing the equity gap in clinical research and workforce representation.
Amgen and Merck recently launched a joint initiative to improve clinical trial diversity by expanding outreach programs and establishing new research partnerships with historically Black medical institutions.
AbbVie announced a multi-year commitment to increasing Black representation across its leadership pipeline, focusing on mentorship and career advancement programs.
Illumen Capital, a Black-owned impact fund, launched a $32.75 million Catalyst Fund to support first-time venture managers and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, addressing systemic biases in funding allocation.
Meanwhile, Black Tech Jobs and Blueprint Technologies introduced NueTech, a workforce development initiative aimed at placing 1,000 underrepresented professionals in high-impact technology and healthcare-adjacent roles.
Concerns arose in January 2025 when the FDA removed the diversity draft guidance in clinical trials — which included removing the link itself to the guidance from the FDA website — requiring companies to ensure diverse participation in trials, raising fears that progress could stall without regulatory oversight.
Although things have taken a turn, experts still believe that the scientific justification for diverse clinical trials will continue to drive efforts toward inclusivity, ensuring that medical research benefits all segments of the population.
By honoring past trailblazers, recognizing present leaders and committing to sustained action, we move closer to a scientific community where diverse voices, labor and innovation drive the future of medicine for all.
On Black History Month 2025, we aim to reiterate how important these scientific contributions are and why representation matters. In a time of uncertainty, it is imperative that research stays true to the audience that needs care and delivers accordingly.
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