IN collaboration with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), Springer Nature has honored two Tanzanian scholars among a cohort of 25 'Rising Researchers.'

Elizabeth Msoka and Dr Innocent Peter, affiliated with the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, have been recognized through a breast cancer program tailored to support early career researchers (ECRs) in the field.

A statement released by Springer Nature and provided to this journalist, has that the duo are among a cohort of 25 'Rising Researchers, and that the selection process emphasized Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and underserved communities globally, reinforcing Springer Nature and BCRF's dedication to fostering equity and inclusivity in scholarly research and publishing.

The rising scholars breast cancer program is the culmination of over a decade-long partnership between Springer Nature and BCRF.

“Central to this collaboration is the aim of addressing significant disparities in health outcomes,” states the announcement.

It highlights a notable example of this gap: despite a slightly lower incidence rate compared to white women, Black women face higher mortality rates from breast cancer, being 40 percent more likely to succumb to the disease.

In addition to recognition, the cohort of 25 researchers, spread globally, will benefit from additional incentives.

They will participate in four Nature Masterclasses led by editors and trainers, focusing on enhancing their skills in scientific writing, publishing, public communication of research, and data sharing and management.

The inaugural Nature course is slated to commence in late March, with a select subgroup within the cohort receiving scientific editing services for their research papers.

Andrea Macaluso, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Nature Portfolio in the Americas, expressed enthusiasm for the Rising Scholars: Breast Cancer program.

"This initiative fulfills a longstanding goal of ours: to empower early career researchers (ECRs) at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and in underserved communities with the resources needed to publish their work in prestigious journals," Andrea stated.

Also Andrea highlighted the invaluable partnership with BCRF, emphasizing their pioneering role in adopting Springer Nature's data research solutions. He reaffirmed Springer Nature's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core strategic priorities, underscoring the dedication to fostering a diverse global research community.

Dorraya El-Ashry, Chief Scientific Officer at BCRF, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of supporting early career scientists to promote workforce diversity.

"These interactive workshops provide essential tools, techniques, and strategies to enhance researchers' skills, confidence, and career prospects while improving their publication output," El-Ashry explained. She emphasized how access to training and resources enables authors to overcome publishing barriers and refine data sharing and management practices effectively.

In the past, Springer Nature collaborated with BCRF, known for its leadership in high-impact publishing, to offer Nature Masterclasses on scholarly writing and publishing to Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Early Career Women Researchers, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This initiative aimed to enhance the research skills and publishing capabilities of these groups.

Moving forward, the new program will generate both qualitative and quantitative data to assess the impact of these efforts. This data will provide tangible evidence of the effectiveness of the program and guide future initiatives in supporting diverse researchers and fostering inclusivity in academic publishing.