Training Academic and Community Investigator Teams for Community-Engaged Research: Program Development,...

Area of Science:

• Translational Science
• Community-Engaged Research (CEnR)
• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Background:

• Community-engaged research (CEnR) involves active collaboration between academic and community partners.
• Academic researchers often lack knowledge in community engagement, while community members have limited input in research development and implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore two National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded CEnR training programs designed to facilitate translational science.
• To examine the models developed in South Carolina and Delaware for CEnR training.

Main Methods:

• Described recruitment, development, and support strategies for academic-community partnerships.
• Detailed program components including mentorship, funding, structured training, and emphasis on community-based participatory research (CBPR).
• Included program development, funding, selection, team expectations, educational content, and evaluation methods.

Main Results:

• 40 academic-community partnerships participated, increasing the number and quality of community-engaged researchers.
• Successful completion of pilot projects and effective academic-community partnerships were achieved.
• Evaluations showed significant return on investment (ROI), ranging from $9.72 to $41.59 per dollar invested.

Conclusions:

• Research teams demonstrated improved development and application of CEnR and CBPR approaches.
• The success of these programs highlights the need for similar initiatives offering training, preparation, and support for CEnR.
• Investment in CEnR training yields substantial benefits in research quality and community engagement.