Black Female Physicist Awarded $1.1M For Cancer Research
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green is the shining example of Black Girl Magic, literally.
As one of fewer than 100 Black female physicists in America, according to al.com, Green has been awarded a $1.1M grant to assist her research on developing a new and improved method for cancer treatment involving lasers and nanoparticles.
The St. Louis native is all too familiar with how close to home cancer can hit after losing both of her parents to the disease, and witnessing her aunt refusing to undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatments, fearing the side-effects.
After taking time off from school to care for her relative while they were undergoing chemo and radiation treatments, Green returned to earn her bachelors degree in physics with a concentration in fiber-optics from Alabama A&M University. She then went on to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham for her master’s and Ph. D. degrees. While there she focused on developing a solution alternative to chemotherapy.
“I’m really hoping this can change the way we treat cancer in America,” said Green. “There are so many people who only get a three-month or six-month survival benefit from the drugs they take. Then three or six months later, they’re sent home with no hope, nothing else we can do. Those are the patients I want to try to save, the ones where regular medicine isn’t effective for them.”
Green’s method using imaging equipment consists of using an FDA-approved drug containing nanoparticles to be injected into a cancer patient. The heat causes the patient’s tumor to glow making it easier to identify the tumor. LonSee, the black girl magic.
Green continues her research and teaching at Tuskegee, making sure to take time to speak at schools and other youth events. She realizes the importance of moving forward and reaching back to help others along the way.
“There are black female scientists who don’t get media exposure,” she said. “Because of that, young black girls don’t see those role models as often as they see Beyonce or Nicki Minaj. It’s important to know that our brains are capable of more than fashion and entertainment and music, even though arts are important.”
“It takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “I repeat that because a village of people helped raise me and instill values in me, and encouraged me to get to this point. I did not get here by myself. Because of that clarity, I know my responsibility to encourage and mentor the next generation.”
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green is the definition of black excellence.
