Research
Through community-centered research partnerships, Cierra Sisters works to fight against systemic gendered racism in healthcare and advance equitable breast cancer outcomes for Black women and underserved communities.
Nothing About Us Without Us.
For 30 years, Cierra Sisters has served at the intersection of education, advocacy, and community trust. Research is one of our core pillars because data drives change but only when the community is meaningfully included. We collaborate with institutions such as the University of Washington and American Cancer Society to address breast cancer disparities, increase equitable access, and improve culturally relevant communication tools. We engage in research through a community-centered lens grounded in trust and lived experience.
Our approach centers:
• Community-informed study design
• Ethical engagement
• Transparent communication
• Partnership with trusted institutions
• Ongoing feedback loops with participants
• Health equity
• Black women lived experience
This is research rooted in relationship.
How Cierra Sisters Engages with Research.
We are actively engaging in research that explores how technology, communication, and community partnership can improve outcomes for Black women with:
• Community-based participatory research
• Advisory boards & co-design sessions
• Clinical trial awareness & navigation
• Technology + AI in healthcare equity
• Data-informed community education
What Participation From You Can Look Like:
• Joining a study
• Serving on a community advisory group
• Attending a co-design session
• Providing feedback on emerging health tools
• Referring someone who may qualify
Black women deserve research that reflects our realities, protects our dignity, and improves our outcomes. Breast cancer disparities do not exist by accident. Structural racism within our healthcare system has led to delayed diagnoses, unequal treatment, and higher mortality rates for Black women. These inequities are real, and they demand real solutions. We also recognize that research has not always protected Black communities. Historical harms, including unethical studies like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, have created deep and understandable mistrust. That history matters. The hesitation you may feel makes sense. That is why Cierra Sisters approaches research differently. We partner with trusted academic institutions while ensuring that Black women are not simply participants, but advisors, collaborators, and leaders in the research process.
We prioritize:
• Transparency about how your information is used
• Informed consent and clear communication
• Community oversight and input
• Culturally responsive design
• Research that leads to tangible change
Participation is always voluntary. Your voice, your story, and your data belong to you. When we engage in research, we do so to shift systems, influence policy, improve screening and treatment access, and ensure that future generations of Black women receive better care. Research done with us, not on us, is part of how we change the narrative.
Black women continue to face:
• Later-stage diagnoses
• Higher mortality rates
• Limited inclusion in clinical research
• Barriers to early detection and quality care
• More aggressive subtypes
• Underrepresentation in clinical research
• Systemic barriers to care
If you’re interested in participating in a current or upcoming study, we invite you to learn more below:
Donate Today!
Across the country, funding for health equity research is being reduced or reallocated, placing critical work at risk. When you donate, please mark your donation “Research” to direct your gift to the Cierra Sisters Health Equity Research Fund to help ensure Black women remain centered in life-saving studies.
Your voice matters in shaping the future of breast health. The future of Black Women's health. The future of equitable care.
If you’re interested in participating in a current or upcoming study, we invite you to learn more below: