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Voices

Runcie C.W. Chidebe: ‘Black voices in cancer research and oncology’

'How do we attract and retain more diverse researchers to the cancer community, and how do we begin to close the gap in cancer disparities?' asks Nature Reviews Cancer

Voices

Runcie C.W. Chidebe: ‘Black voices in cancer research and oncology’

Runcie C.W. Chidebe, a doctoral student in Gerontological Studies, is one of five Black cancer researchers and clinicians interviewed by Nature Reviews Cancer to present their ideas for bringing about positive change in attracting and retaining more diverse researchers to the cancer community and closing the gap in cancer disparities. 

“There is an urgent need to rethink inclusion in a way that studies focused on under-represented populations are designed to find solutions, conducted with respect and reported in a non-judgemental way,” Chidebe said. 

Chibede is a patient advocate and global health innovator and the founder/executive director of Project PINK BLUE. He supports people battling cancer, drives policy advocacies, and founded the first oncology patient navigation in Nigeria. 

His research at Miami focuses on aging and access to cancer care, workforce issues of older adults, and veterans’ health. He is exploring the intersection of aging and access to cancer treatment, the exclusion of older adults in oncology clinical trials, and how older adults live with metastatic breast cancer in Nigeria.

He was a top presenter in Miami University’s 2023 Graduate Research Forum.