Community Partnered Research Ethics Training in Practice: A Collaborative Approach to Certification.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Bioethics
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Academic investigators and community research partners (CRPs) require specialized training in human subjects' research ethics.
• Existing training models may not adequately address the needs of diverse research partners or foster collaborative relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a tailored, accessible, and engaging research ethics training program for academic investigators and CRPs.
• To create a free, publicly available model for ethical research conduct and certification.
• To strengthen academic-community partnerships through collaborative learning.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Community Partnered Research Ethics Training (CPRET) and Certification program.
• Implementation of an interactive and relationship-building training process.
• Certification of participants by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Main Results:

• Seven academic and 34 CRP teams have successfully utilized the CPRET program.
• The training process was found to be highly interactive, engaging, and educational.
• Participants gained knowledge and skills in human subjects' research principles.

Conclusions:

• The CPRET program provides an effective and flexible model for research ethics training.
• This training strengthens community and academic partnerships for ethical research.
• The program promotes culturally sensitive research practices.