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UB researchers increasingly recognize the impact of community members on research design, leading to more culturally relevant interventions and meaningful results. A program that makes its mark is the UB Clinical and Translational Science Institute Community engagement studio program.
The program, developed by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Community-Engaged Research Core, is widely recognized across the national Clinical and Translational Science Awards consortium. This semi-structured approach brings researchers and stakeholders together, face-to-face – or virtually – for a two-way conversation around different aspects of research studies.
CTSI Senior Director of Community Engagement Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Director of Community Translational Research in the Department of Family Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, believes community engagement is needed more than ever. . And the studio’s model, in particular, offers a path to greater and more meaningful community contribution.
“The studios help us as an institution to show our commitment to conducting community-influenced research,” says Tumiel-Berhalter. “It makes our research more relevant while recognizing the unique contributions of community members. “
Since its inception at UB last year, CTSI’s community engagement team has held numerous studio sessions with researchers. Oscar G. Gomez, A member of the CTSI Steering Committee and Associate Head of CTSI’s Mentee Career Development Program, was a recent participant. His study explored the priorities, perceptions and preferences of the Hispanic / Latino community for COVID-19 research and health education.
“The studio session on community engagement was instrumental in our study, as it allowed us to have direct input from community members, including those in leadership positions,” says Gomez, professor. Associate and Division Chief of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School. “We had direct access to information that would not have been possible otherwise. “
Gomez says the session provided multiple benefits on several fronts. “Academically, this has helped us gather essential information about the interests and priorities of the community with respect to their healthcare needs, especially healthcare related to COVID-19,” says -he. “From a socialization standpoint, we have benefited immensely from meeting these wonderful and caring community members whose dedication and advocacy for their community was inspiring. “
Gomez believes that it is “imperative that community members are informed firsthand” of the research interests of academic institutions.
“It is also imperative that community members are encouraged to share their opinions, suggestions and concerns,” he adds. “Feedback is essential for any kind of research involving members of the community, not only for the benefits it may bring in the future, but also for the risks it may involve. “
Other researchers who have used the program also recognize the contributions of participating community members to their research. “Participating in the studio program has provided us with a solid platform to start an academic-community partnership around kidney transplant access which is now thriving and continues to gain momentum,” says Liise K. Kayler, Program Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, and Division Head of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Jacobs School.
Likewise, Tumiel-Berhalter says the feedback provided by community members was critical to the success of one of his recent studies. “It showed us that we could ask better questions, and it also gave us valuable insight into why some research studies don’t succeed,” she notes. “We have to be in sync with the community if we want our research to be successful. “
The researchers’ evaluations demonstrated the valuable contributions of community experts during the studio sessions. Of all the participating principal investigators, the top four top-rated contributions are:
- Better understanding of the community.
- Increased sensitivity to the community.
- Critical feedback on the feasibility of the project.
- Critical comments on the relevance of the project.
Above all, says Megan Wilson-Crowley, CTSI community research facilitator, the program has changed the perceptions of many researchers. “It’s exciting to see the effect these sessions have on research,” she says. “We need to create more spaces for researchers and community members to come together on an equal footing and engage in constructive dialogue. “
CTSI funds four studio sessions on community engagement each year. Interested researchers can apply by completing a brief REDCap application.
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