Black History in Genetics
Trailblazers, Pioneers, and Leaders in Genetics
Overview
Introduction
This showcase of trailblazing Black pioneers, leaders, and unsung heroes is here to remind you that you are not alone. The people shown here come from small towns and big cities, were first generation college students and legacies, and while some were gifted, others leaned on faith and resilience to push for change.
Though this list does not capture everyone, it represents the mark African Americans and meaning-makers of African descent have made on the field genetics. Their stories are here to inspire you and to provide the representation you may have struggled to find. Because of them, we can. This is for you.
Educator
Doris C. Withers, EdD
Dr. Withers is an emerita Professor of Biology and Education. "Emerita" means that while Dr. Withers is retired, she still retains the title and honor of professor. Dr. Withers focused her efforts on genetic literacy and genealogy during her career.
She was born in Newport News, Virginia.
Educator
Tracy L. Johnson, PhD
Dr. Tracy Johnson is a Keith and Cecelia Teraski Presidential Endowed Chair, Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, and Dean of the College of Life Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Her research focuses on gene regulation (how the cell controls genes), RNA processing (how RNA is formed and maintained), and chromatin modification (a key mechanism of gene expression).
Dr. Johnson calls the state of California "home."
Educator
Charmaine E. Royal, PhD, MS
Dr. Charmaine E. Royal is a Robert O. Keohane Professor of African & African American Studies, Biology, Global Health, and Family Medicine & Community Health at Duke University in North Carolina.
Dr. Royal is a scholar of race and genetics, as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic research.
Educator
Shawneequa L. Collier, MA, JD
Shawneequa L. Collier is a lawyer, bioethicist, and legal scholar of the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic research.
She teaches bioethics (ethics applied to biology, health, and technology) as a tenured professor in Washington, DC.
Shawneequa went to high school in Queens, New York and has studied across the globe, in Australia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom!
Educator
Jason Williams, BS
Jason Williams is an outreach educator specializing in bioinformatics and workforce diversity. He studied biology at Stony Brook University and did research in plant phylogenetics and systematics.
Jason is a scientist without a PhD. He has written that humility is part of the reason he has not obtained this degree.
He was born in Long Island, New York, enjoys pop music, and can navigate the NYC subways by smell!
Educator
Ambroise Wonkam, MD, DMedSc, PhD
Dr. Ambroise Wonkam is a Professor of MEdical Genetics and Henry J. Knott Director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute and Department of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Wonkam is from Cameroon and studies sickle cell disease, ethics, and hearing loss.
Interestingly, he didn't always know he wanted to become a geneticist!
HBCU
Howard University
Did you know that a university in Washington, D.C. called Howard University has played a major role in training and supporting Black scientists, especially in the field of genetics?
For a long time, Howard was one of the only places where Black students interested in science could get advanced training. A lot of other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) didn't have programs that went all the way up to a Ph.D. So, Howard became a really important hub - it trained its own students but also welcomed students from other schools who wanted those higher degrees.
Many of the pioneering Black geneticists you'll learn about in this project got their start at Howard. The university provided a place where they could develop their talents and expertise and has been important in shaping the field of genetics in America. Other HBCUs with a footing in genetics include Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Xavier University, and North Carolina A&T State University.
Researcher
Ernest E. Just, PhD
Dr. Just was a pioneering biologist who provided one of the early conceptions of epigenetics. “Epigenetics” is the study of how the environment and other factors change the way that genes are expressed. “Epi-“ means “on or above” in Greek, so “epigenetic” describes factors that do not change the DNA sequence.
Dr. Just was born in the late 1880s in Charleston, South Carolina. He worked with sea urchins and knew Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan (a famous fruit fly geneticist).
Researcher
Herman R. Branson, PhD
Dr. Herman R. Branson was a biophysicist, having a earned a PhD in physics, and provided an early conception of the DNA protein structure (before Watson & Crick).
He was born in Pocahontas, Virginia and spent the last years of his life in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Researcher
Marie M. Daly, PhD
Dr. Marie M. Daly was a biochemist, having been the first African American woman to earn a PhD in chemistry. She provided an early understanding of histones. “Histones” are highly basic proteins that provide structural support for chromosomes.
A 1953 paper she helped co-author a paper was cited in Watson & Crick’s Nobel Prize lecture on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Dr. Daly was born in Queens, New York, and loved music, especially playing the flute.
Researcher
Sheila S. Stiles, PhD
Dr. Sheila S. Stiles is a research geneticist, breeder and conservationist of shellfish.
Dr. Stiles grew up during the era of racial segregation (at work, school, movies, public transportation) in Memphis, Tennessee. It was in Memphis that she grew an interest in exploring nature and the natural world. She went on to study biology at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana – the only Black Catholic university in the nation.
Dr. Stiles has given back to the field as a passionate mentor to the next generation.
Researcher
Georgia M. Dunston, PhD
Dr. Georgia M. Dunston is a human geneticist and one of the early leaders in studying complex diseases in African-Americans. “Complex diseases” are those that have a combination of genetic and environmental influence, like cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Dunston says she was hooked on genetics by her desire to understand “human differences.” She was recruited to the University of Michigan in the late 1960s to complete her PhD in Human Genetics under the Black Action Movement – an effort the increase the representation of African Americans at the school. She later worked with Dr. Francis Collins (former NIH director and leader of the Human Genome Project) and was a pioneer in building a database of African American genomes and founded the National Human Genome Center at Howard University.
Dr. Dunston was born in Norfolk, Virginia.
Researcher
Fatimah L. C. Jackson, PhD
Dr. Fatimah L. C. Jackson is a human biologist and genetic anthropologist, focusing her studies on human-plant coevolution and population biology in peoples of African descent.
Dr. Jackson grew up in Colorado and was inspired to study human differences when her jeans did not fit her as a teenager and after reading science texts with racist theories.
Dr. Jackson advocated for the inclusion of African-Americans in the original Human Genome Project and is the first woman of African descent to be awarded to the Charles R. Darwin Lifetime Achievement Award.
Researcher
Rick A. Kittles, PhD
Dr. Rick A. Kittles is a human geneticist. He studies complex diseases in African-Americans and is well known for his research of prostate cancer and health disparities in Black men. Dr. Kittles also co-founded and directed African Ancestry, Inc., founded in the early 2000s, using DNA to uncover lineage, ancestry, and identity of African-Americans.
Dr. Kittles was born in Georgia but grew up in New York. He wanted to a be rap musician but his curiosity about human origins and differences led him to study genetics!
Researcher
Tina A. Lasisi, PhD
Dr. Tina A. Lasisi is a genetic anthropologist. She studies the genetics and evolution of human hair and pigmentation and is now a professor of Anthropology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.
Dr. Lasisi is active on social media and hosted PBS Terra Digital Show “Why Am I Like This”? available on YouTube! Dr. Lasisi grew up in the Netherlands.
Researcher
Carter K. Clinton, PhD
Dr. Carter K. Clinton is a genetic anthropologist. He studies ancient DNA (also known as "aDNA") from African-American burial grounds. Ancient DNA or “aDNA” is DNA extracted from biological remains.
Dr. Clinton was mentored by Dr. Fatimah Jackson as a graduate student at Howard University. He is now a university professor of biology.
Carter grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York and used to be afraid of public speaking before becoming a National Geographic Explorer!
Researcher
Charles N. Rotimi, PhD, MPH, MS
Dr. Charles N. Rotimi is a human geneticist. He advocated early for the inclusion of African and African American genomes in genetic research despite much political and cultural opposition at the time. He helped found the African Society for Human Genetics and played a major role in H3Africa initiative which invested funding in African researchers to support genetic research led by Africans for Africans.
Dr. Rotimi spent time in Mississippi and Alabama for graduate school. He also worked closely with Dr. Georgia Dunston at Howard University and was recruited to the National Institutes of Health by Dr. Francis Collins.
Researcher
Tshaka Cunningham, PhD
Dr. Tshaka Cunningham is a molecular biologist and entrepreneur. He co-directs a non-profit organization that bridges faith communities with genomic research studies through education and outreach.
Dr. Cunningham grew up in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC and called himself a “cool nerd” growing up. He studied abroad in France after completing his PhD (post-doc position).
Researcher
C. Brandon Ogbunu, PhD
Dr. C Brandon Ogbunu is a computational and evolutionary biologist and professor. His research focuses on evolution using genetics, epidemiology, and computer science. He asks questions like why do things evolve? What influences inside the cell make evolution happen? And, what makes organisms more or less likely to evolve?
Dr. Ogbunu was inspired by his mother – a schoolteacher – and Jane Goodall – a primate biologist – to study evolution. He is from New York City and graduated with a degree in chemistry from Howard University.
Doctor
James E. Bowman, MD
Dr. James E. Bowman was a skilled pediatrician, pathologist, and professor. Dr. Bowman is known for his work on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to break down in response to certain medications, infections, and other stressors. He studied this disorder while living abroad in Iran and later studied malaria which took him to study in Mexico, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, and other places.
Dr. Bowman also researched and advocated for education in sickle cell disease.
Dr. Bowman was born in Washington, DC in 1923, and completed medical school through the military in the era of legalized segregation.
Doctor
Neil A. Hanchard, MBBS, DPhil
Dr. Neil Hanchard is a pediatric research geneticist. His research focuses on the genetics of conditions that affect children from all over the world, such as poor diet (malnutrition), sickle cell disease, and high blood pressure (childhood hypertension).
Dr. Hanchard is from Jamaica and completed his doctorate (DPhil) in the UK. Dr. Hanchard enjoys spending time with his family.
Doctor
Natario L. Couser, MD, MS
Dr. Natario Couser is one of only a handful of ophthalmic geneticists in the world. “Opthalmic” comes from the word “Ophthalmology,” which is the field of medicine that studies the eyes and vision. Dr. Couser is a doctor sees and treats patients with genetic disorders that affect the eyes and vision.
Dr. Couser was born in Hampton, Virginia, and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Inc, a historically Black fraternity. He learned about the intersection of ophthalmology and genetics during his time at the National Institutes of Health.
Doctor
April D. Adams, MD, MS
Dr. April D. Adams is a maternal fetal medicine geneticist. “Maternal fetal medicine” is the field of medicine that cares for pregnancies at high risk for health conditions that affect the fetus or the mother. Dr. Adams has additional training in genetics which allows her to see and treat fetuses and pregnant people with genetic disorders.
Dr. Adams is passionate about women’s health is now the director of combined MFM-Medical Genetics Fellowship Program at Baylor University in Houston, Texas.
Doctor
Dallas Reed, MD
Dr. Dallas Reed is an OB/GYN geneticist and senior leader. She is the Division Chief of Genetics, Director of Perinatal Genetics, and OB/GYN practicing in Massachusetts. She is strong advocate for women’s health and health equity in clinical care.
Dr. Reed grew up in Plano, Texas, and obtained a scholarship study at King’s College London where “Photo 51” by Rosalind Franklin was taken!
Doctor
Chester W. Brown, MD
Dr. Chester W. Brown is a pediatric geneticist and researcher. He is the St. Jude Chair of Excellence in Genetics, Division of Chief of Genetics, and professor of genetics in the state of Tennessee. Dr. Brown is a physician scientist, which means he holds both a medical degree and a PhD. His research focuses on childhood obesity, rare genetic conditions, and population health. He also has interests in genetics education and engagement.
Dr. Brown was born in Gary, Indiana, and earned a competitive full scholarship to study at Howard University for college. He enjoys music and sports.
Doctor
Kevin E. Glinton, MD
Dr. Kevin E. Glinton is a medical and metabolic geneticist. “Metabolic” or “Biochemical geneticists” are geneticists with additional training to see and treat patients with inborn errors of metabolism, conditions where the body cannot breakdown, store, or use certain molecules. They can also see and treat other genetic disorders.
Dr. Glinton studied chemistry at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennesse – a historically black college (HBCU) and obtained his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry before going on to medical school.
Dr. Glinton is a native of the Bahamas!
Genetic Counselor
Lorna Wilkerson, MD, MS
Dr. Lorna Wilkerson was one of the first Black graduates of the Sarah Lawrence College Genetic Counseling Program in Bronxville, New York. She entered the workforce at a time when Black genetic counselors represented 0.1% of the workforce. They now represent 2%. During her early years as a genetic counselor, she felt called by her patients to take a more active role in their care. She later enrolled in medical school at Cornell and eventually became an OB/GYN and women’s health specialist. She has worked with several institutions in the Boston area, including Harvard and Tufts.
Dr. Wilkerson was the founder of the first national workshop in Ethnic and Cultural Influences in Genetic Counseling.
Genetic Counselor
Carolyn Allen, DNP, MSN, MS
Dr. Carolyn Allen is a genomics nurse practitioner. She got her start at Howard University and went off to study genetic counseling at Sarah Lawrence College. Dr. Allen worked as a research associate after graduating from GC school (the job market looked very different then!) and with a desire for more hands-on care, went on to pursue new opportunities in healthcare. She studied nursing and worked as an inpatient nurse and clinical instructor for many years. Now, combining her experience and skills as a genomics nurse practitioner, she works with patients with rare and undiagnosed diseases and contributes to the care plan and overall wellbeing of patients and their families.
Dr. Allen is from the DMV area and loves to travel!
Genetic Counselor
Barbara W. Harrison, MS
Barbara W. Harrison is a clinical genetic counselor, assistant professor, and assistant director of community education and outreach for the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease. Barbara has practiced in prenatal, pediatrics, adult, and cancer genetics for over 20 years. She was awarded the 2020 Natalie Weissberger Paul Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Barbara used to co-direct the Howard University Genetic Counseling Program in the early 2000s and continues to support efforts to diversify the genetic counseling workforce with GOLDEN.
Genetic Counselor
Courtney Tate, MBA, MS
Courtney Tate is a senior vice president of marketing and client relations. Courtney trained as a genetic counselor at the University of South Carolina and was on the first graduates to transition from clinic to industry (at a time when this was not so common!).
Courtney has built her career in oncology, women’s health, medical affairs, sales, and marketing.
Courtney opened the door behind her by sponsoring a summer internship stipend at the University of South Carolina Genetic Counseling Program for many years.
Genetic Counselor
Alicia Gomes, MS
Alicia Gomes is a genetic counselor with experience in the clinic, genetic testing laboratories, and as an assistant professor. She is a global expert on genetic testing and counseling for neurofibromatosis type 1, type 2, and schwannomatosis – uncommon genetic conditions linked to a propensity to develop certain growths and tumors.
She has co-authored chapters in textbooks and over 15 medical research articles.
Alicia completed her genetic counselor training at the University of South Carolina and enjoys all flavors of chocolate!
Genetic Counselor
Jason Carmichael, MS
Jason Carmichael is a clinical genetic counselor specializing in prenatal and pediatric genetics in California. In addition to his clinical work, he is a manager and oversees a team of genetic counselors and precision medicine initiatives. Jason has also been involved in institution and state-level policy decisions affecting electronic health records and workflows for newborn screening.
Jason grew up in a military family and spent three years between Mali and Cameroon as a HIV/Health Educator as part of the Peace Corps!
Genetic Counselor
Liann Jimmons, MS
Liann Jimmons (she/they) is a clinical genetic counselor with experience in in prenatal, pediatric, metabolic, and cancer genetics. She is an advocate for genomic justice and has spoken and written articles on issues related to reproductive rights, allyship, eugenics, LGBTQ+ rights, intersex individuals, and racial/ethnic minorities.
Liann graduated from the Boise State University GC program and practiced for a few years in Hawaii!
Genetic Counselor
Grace-Anne Fasaye, ScM
Grace-Anne Fasaye is a research genetic counselor specializing in hereditary cancer syndromes. A “syndrome” is a pattern of symptoms that occur together more often than expected by random chance. For instance, much of Grace’s work has focused on studying the gene CDH1 which is not only linked to gastric (stomach) cancer but a specific form of breast cancer. Grace sees patients with this condition and others working with a team of doctors and researchers to study the effects of different cancer treatments, the effect of certain genetic variants, and patient outcomes.
Grace trained at the Johns Hopkins University and National Human Genome Research Institute and co-founded GOLDEN with Barbara Harrison. She has been a longtime advocate of diversifying the genetic counseling workforce.
Grace grew up in the DMV area and has Nigerian heritage.
Advocate
Vence L. Bonham, Jr, JD
Mr. Vence L. Bonham is a lawyer and health equity scholar. He was recruited to join the National Human Genome Research Insitute in Bethesda, Maryland in the early 2000s and has provided foundational leadership for many programs, including the Education and Community Involvement Branch, Health Disparities Unit, and the Training, Diversity, and Health Equity Office. Prior to this, he was a university professor of law.
Mr. Bonham’s lab (yes, you can have a lab and do research as a lawyer in genomics!) focuses on health equity and health disparities, with a primary focus on sickle cell disease and global health.
Mr. Bonham is a lover of fine art.
Advocate
Janina Jeff, PhD, MS
Dr. Janina Jeff is a bioinformatics scientist. “Bioinformatics” sits at the intersection of computer science and biology. Dr. Jeff studies the human genome to look at genetic differences and similarities between human populations. She also works to make sure that our library of genomes has a book from all populations, not just some.
Dr. Jeff was the first African American woman to graduate from Vanderbilt University with a PhD in Human Genetics. Dr. Jeff is also an award-winning podcaster (Check out “In those Genes” on Spotify!).
Dr. Jeff grew up in Louisiana and is a lover of house plants and hip-hop.
Advocate
Altovise Ewing, PhD, MS
Dr. Altovise Ewing is a genomic health equity scholar and scientist. “Health equity” is the act of meeting the medical needs of people where they are: through location, language, transportation, education, religion, financial, and more. Dr. Ewing’s work focuses on health equity in cancer and genetic/genomic testing.
Dr. Ewing earned her PhD and trained as a genetic counselor at Howard University. Prior to this, she taught middle school through Teach for America for two years!
Dr. Ewing is a first generation college student and grew up in Pulaski, TN.
Advocate
Victoria Gray
Victoria Gray was born and raised outside of Jackson, Mississippi. She was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at three years old and in adulthood, was the first American patient treated with CRISPR-based gene therapy for the disease.
“CRISPR” is short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.” CRISPR comes from nature, using lessons learned from the way bacteria adapt to and fight viruses by adopting short pieces of their DNA. This adopted DNA can then be transcribed to RNA (remember the central dogma?) which can make precise cuts into the genome of similar attackers. Researchers have now learned how to harness this process to make edits to the human genome. A remarkable scientific advance which led to a Nobel Prize.
Victoria was effectively “cured” of sickle cell disease through a clinical trial in the summer of 2019. She is a mother of four and now enjoys a symptom-free life with family and friends in Mississippi. She is now a passionate public speaker and advocate.
Advocate
Erika Stallings
Erika Stallings is a lawyer, writer, and patient advocate based in New York City. In 2014, she learned that she carried a non-working copy of the BRCA2 gene and underwent a preventative mastectomy later that year. A “Preventative mastectomy” is a surgical procedure that removes all breast tissue in one or both breasts. Due to the high chance of developing breast cancer with a non-working BRCA2 gene copy, a preventative mastectomy can reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer and add years to a person’s life. About 1 in 400 people having a non-working copy of the BRCA2 gene.
Erika is now dedicated to raising awareness of hereditary cancer and genetic counseling and testing in the Black community.
Advocate
Sarita Edwards, MHA
Sarita Edwards is an award-winning parent advocate, patient expert, social health ambassador, and international public speaker. She is also the mother of a son with trisomy 18.
Trisomy 18 is a chromosomal disorder associated with significant cognitive and physical disabilities. Trisomy 18 is one of the few genetic conditions screened for during pregnancy. It affects in 1 in 5000 to 6000 live births each year. A fetus with a high chance of having trisomy 18 can typically be detected by ultrasound or genetic testing. For Sarita and her family, accessing care was not easy. The nearest clinics and therapy centers were two hours away and early on, care was withheld for fear for poor life expectancy.
Sarita went on to establish the E.W.E Foundation in 2019 with her husband to support other families impacted by trisomy 18 and other rare diseases. Sarita has a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Advocate
Laura Crandon
Laura Crandon is a patient and advocate and breast cancer survivor. She attended her routine breast cancer screenings as recommended in her mid 40s and was initially told she had “dense breasts” from the scans. This finding is common but makes it more difficult to determine whether cancer is present or not. It is also reported most frequently in African American women. This combination of facts often results in fewer referrals for further testing for African American women. About a year later, Laura found a lump in her breasts by self-exam which unfortunately turned out to be metastatic cancer.
Laura underwent treatment and has now dedicated much of her time to educating Black and African American communities about the importance of cancer screening and early detection. She also encourages communities and policymakers to increase access to genetic testing and including all racial and ethnic backgrounds in clinical trials.
Laura started the non-profit organization Touch4Life in 2020 and works tirelessly to connect the community with healthcare champions to reduce the gaps in care and outcomes for minority communities.
End
You are Black History in the Making
As you've seen, the field of genetics has been shaped by the brilliance, determination, and pioneering spirit of Black trailblazers. Let this showcase inspire you to chase your dreams. Many on this list are still with us and eager to support you on your journey of studying genetics and its implications. Though challenges may come up, draw strength from the giants whose shoulders you stand upon. You are Black history in the making.