Partnership with an African American sorority to enhance participation in cancer genetics research

Background/Aims: Reduced minority participation in clinical research challenges researchers to consider novel recruitment modalities. This study describes a formal partnership between the National Educational Foundation of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the Mid-Atlantic Cancer Genetics Network. The goal was to enhance awareness about inherited breast cancer and to increase enrollment in the national Cancer Genetics Network. Methods: In this descriptive, pilot study, two recruitment strategies across four states were undertaken: an onsite educational session at four Annual State Leadership Conferences and a 2-tiered direct mail campaign to the sorority membership. Results: Recruitment methods targeted over 1,200 well-educated African American women. Of the 279 attendees at the state conference educational sessions, only 3 women meeting the high risk eligibility requirement enrolled. Direct mail recruitment elicited 24 eligible women. Lessons learned are described. Conclusion: Despite low accrual, the partnership laid a foundation for broader collaboration with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. In the future, collaboration with minority sororities and fraternities as part of standard registry recruitment should be explored.