Eliminating racism in research

Racism has no place in research. The proposed establishment of an Institute of Racism and Health to develop Canada’s research capacity to assess and eliminate race-based inequalities in health may be useful as a long-term approach to coordinating and harnessing the wisdom that exists and best practices being developed.¹ However, dismantling something as pervasive as racism requires an immediate, multi-pronged approach that does not rely on top–down knowledge-sharing.

All those engaged in the research ecosystem — funders, researchers, Research Ethics Boards — have an immediate role to play in eliminating racism. Right now, we can take an honest look at whose voices and perspectives are included in research funding prioritization. Right now, researchers identifying as Black, Indigenous people, or people of colour should have the opportunity to co-lead the process of dismantling racism throughout the research ecosystem. Right now, Research Ethics Boards can begin to think critically about how race is used in study protocols to minimize race-based harm and be intentional about including members of racialized groups in meaningful, nontokenistic ways to reinforce Institute-level priorities from the ground up. And right now, we can educate ourselves about the history of racism within research and its lasting impact.

So, yes, let’s name the problem of racism, and approach it on a national scale. Additionally, let us commit to nonperformative allyship.