Cheryl Prescod, a health-care administrator with a decade of experience, has observed firsthand how Black Canadians can feel marginalized by the one-size-fits-all approach of the national health-care system. Serving as the executive director at the Black Creek Community Health Center in Toronto’s Jane and Finch area, Prescod caters to a diverse clientele, including a significant number of Black and racially diverse individuals who struggle to access health services that respect their cultural backgrounds.
Notably, Black individuals are disproportionately affected by specific illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and triple-negative breast cancer. Commencing on February 1, a collaborative effort involving researchers from Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia will kick off the genCARE project. This initiative aims to genetically map over 10,000 Black Canadians with the aforementioned diseases, along with individuals free from underlying health conditions. The project, funded by Genome Canada, aspires to provide insights that can guide targeted treatment and preventive care, leading to fairer and anti-racist health outcomes.
Prescod emphasized the significance of including Black people in genetic research, highlighting that less than five percent of global genetic studies involve data from Black populations. She anticipates that the genCARE project’s outcomes will empower her to better assist patients at Black Creek in managing their health conditions effectively.
Dr. Upton Allen, the administrative lead of the genCARE project, envisions a future where genetic information and other factors will inform diagnosis and treatment decisions through precision medicine. Overcoming historical discrimination against Black individuals, which has fueled mistrust in medical institutions, poses a challenge in recruiting participants for the project.
Partnering with the Black Creek Community Health Center during the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Allen collaborated with the community to address vaccine hesitancy and systemic distrust in the health-care system. The initiative seeks to bridge gaps in genetic databases by including more data from racialized communities, ultimately enhancing disease predictions and treatment efficacy.
To foster trust and transparency, researchers plan to anonymize participants’ DNA data, store it securely in Canada, and share study findings with the community through events like town halls. By engaging community ambassadors and leveraging outreach efforts, the project aims to build trust and encourage participation from diverse populations.
Future phases of the genCARE project will involve recruiting participants from various health-care settings, including community health centers, clinics, and hospitals. While immediate benefits may not be tangible for participants, Prescod believes that the project’s potential solutions could positively impact future generations. She expressed optimism about the project’s long-term impact, emphasizing that it is never too late to initiate positive change in health care.
