A new paradigm of a healthcare ecosystem

A new paradigm of a healthcare ecosystem, bringing disease screenings and clinical trials to Black women across the US

Our Vision

Black women health outcomes has greatly improved and their longevity is equitable to eliminate Black women’s health disparities by creating access to clinical trials

ACIRAH is Black women founded and led, with deep roots within the Black community for authentic engagement. Black women are the center of our innovative health data platform for clinical trials readiness and whole body, comprehensive healthcare.

Our Mission

Eliminate the health disparities of Black women by creating access to clinical trials and better standard practice of care.

Improving health outcomes of Black women by diversifying who gets access to health screenings and medical information with our innovative health platform.

Our Values

To create and maintain, transparency and trust between ACIRAH women and the clinical trial community in order to provide access to world-class healthcare.

“Parkinson’s disease research is entering a new era with recent discoveries of a protein biomarker and of a risk gene variant in people of African ancestry. Members of the Black and African American community are essential partners in clinical research."

Alyssa O’Grady, VP, Head of Clinical Research
The Michael J. Fox Foundation

Our Story

A former art historian and curator, Bridgette survived colon cancer and shifted her focus to healthcare for Black American Women.

As a researcher, Bridgette focused on racial barriers to cancer clinical trials and served as an advisor on the Colorectal Cancer Alliance National Think Tank.

Bridgette founded ACIRAH, a digital health platform that engages Black Women and stakeholders to drive community-level insights and diversity recruitment in clinical trials. Her goal is to improve health outcomes for Black women by developing equity and expanding healthcare opportunities through better clinical trial recruitment and retention.

Bridgette R McCullough, PhD, Esq., is a lawyer, bioethicist, and IRB certified in human subject research from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

“A New Paradigm, Improving The Health Outcomes of Black American Women By Better Health Screenings and Clinical Trial Recruitment.”

Bridgette R McCullough, MSL, IRB Founder/CEO, ACIRAH

Our Platform

“I did not hesitate to be a member of ACIRAH…I want to live long and be in clinical trials. There is so many new developments happening in medicine, I want in!! I don’t want to be left out!!!"

Betty Johnson, Retired School Teacher
ACIRAH Member Since 2020

“I have always been interested in clinical trials…I wanted to know what they were and how important they are in medicine. With ACIRAH I am not only learning about what clinical trials are, I would like to be in a clinical trial for my health issues.”

Shaniece Jackson
ACIRAH Member Since 2020

“ACIRAH is a guardian for Black women’s health. They educate us on clinical trials and offer an opportunity for us to participate in the advancements in medicine that can save and elongate our lives.”

Charmaine Celine Johnson, MBA
ACIRAH Member Since 2019

“I never thought my body could go through so many stages of heat within a 90 second time span with what appears to be no relief in sight!! I am looking forward to being a part of the health study on Menopause!”

Angela Hardy
ACIRAH Member Since 2024

“Black women’s health has been overlooked and underserved to this day. We can help make a change by being involved in clinical trials.”

Cheryl Parks
ACIRAH Member Since 2021

“As an esthetician, I understand the importance of including Black women in clinical trials. Skin diseases in Black women are frequently misdiagnosed, as they can manifest differently compared to lighter skin tones. This discrepancy is often due to a lack of representation in studies...”

Janaé Wesby, Licensed Esthetician
ACIRAH Member Since 2022

By increasing access to health services, we address a major social determinant of Black health. Our platform is designed to champion and facilitate the recruitment of Black individuals into clinical trials and health screenings. Our innovative two-sided platform bridges the gap between Black women and the clinical research community, fostering social trust and understanding. Through targeted outreach techniques, including in-person events, we actively work to mitigate distrust and boost Black women’s participation in clinical trials. Our partnerships with clinical researchers provide a direct pathway for Black women to engage in vital healthcare research, ensuring their voices are heard and their health needs are addressed.

As of 2022, ACIRAH’s recruited membership is an estimate of 10,000 Black women across the US.

“...It is now more critical than ever to create a community supporting increased participation for black women in clinical trials, while providing access to cutting-edge research, evidence-base prevention, healthcare, and education to create a culture of vibrant health now, and for future generations.”

Lisa Krefft, MSc Law, OTR/L, OHP
ACIRAH Clinical & Medical Advisory Council Member

“...By being involved, Black women of African descent help fill critical gaps in medical knowledge, leading to more accurate and inclusive data, which is essential for developing therapies that reflect diverse populations and ultimately improve health outcomes for all communities."

Dr. Bayo Curry Winchell, MD, MS Saint Mary Urgent Care Group
ACIRAH Clinical & Medical Advisory Committee Member

“...ACIRAH’s digital health platform is a novel approach to moving the needle for equitable clinical trial design, development, and execution.”

Yasmeen Long, MA
Director, Milken Institute FasterCures

“...It is especially important that Black American women – a group at heightened risk for many diseases due to lifetime stressors and other adverse exposures – be included in clinical trials. ACIRAH... provides a novel and exciting platform for engaging Black American women and facilitating their connection to promising trials.”

Dr. Susan Redline, MD, MPH of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health
ACIRAH Clinical & Medical Advisory Council

“Medicine and therapies affect men and women so vastly different. Having Black women in clinical trials is so important to be able to actually find the ways we can help and heal women as best as possible.”

Hayley Sawyer
Friend of ACIRAH member 2023

ACIRAH's Advisory Board

ACIRAH’s Advisory Board unites diverse experts—doctors, researchers, and clinicians from top institutions, and national organizations—committed to improving Black women’s access to clinical trials and enhancing their health outcomes.

“Black women deserve to be studied, to have a greater chance at living life longer and better…A Black woman life is still a life…therefore let us STUDY and TREAT it as such!”

Cedrinna Humphries, Augustinus Bader
ACIRAH Forum Sponsor & Community Partner

Register

"ACIRAH plays a vital role in empowering these women to participate in this innovative clinical study (The Two Happy Hearts Cardiovascular Health Promotion Study). Results will lead to increasing vigilance for early intervention."

Yuqing Guo, RN, PhD, FAAN Principal Investigator & Associate Professor Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California, Irvine ACIRAH’s Forums Sponsor & Partner.

Engagement

ACIRAH Salons and Forums

The Forums on ACIRAH’s platform connect pharmaceutical innovators, healthcare leaders, and practitioners with Black women to increase their awareness of and participation in clinical trials, aiming to improve health outcomes.

Salons connect clinical trial patients and stakeholders to share best practices and support actions that bring research closer to Black women’s communities.