Partnering With Communities

Community engagement adds value to all research and should occur as a deliberate part of the process. Scientists are increasingly aware that for discoveries to make a difference in people's lives, research can't be unidirectional — moving discoveries from bench to bedside — but rather must be a two-way connection between researchers and the community. Community partners add expertise to the research process and ensure that the research is relevant to community interests.

Director's Council of Public Representatives

A federal advisory committee, the Director's Council of Public Representatives is composed of members of the public who advise the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on issues related to public participation in NIH activities, outreach efforts and other matters of public interest.

• Definitions of public participation and community engagement
• Building trust through partnerships

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that promotes health equity and social justice through partnerships between communities and academic institutions.

• Ensuring community-level participants protections
• Partnership perspectives

Mayo Clinic Center for Translational Science Activities (CTSA)

• Research and the community. The CTSA has online courses featuring the concepts of community-engaged research and social responsibility in research.
• Community engagement and minority inclusion. Part of the CTSA, the Office for Community-Engaged Research provides support to investigators seeking guidance on all aspects of conducting clinical research in and with multicultural communities.
• Volunteer recruitment. The CTSA offers several programs to assist investigators who work with research volunteers.

• Sep 26, 2012
• ART477364