Engaging Community Reviewers: The Geriatric Emergency Care Applied Research (2.0)-Advancing Dementia Care Network...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Emergency Care
• Dementia Care Research
• Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)

Background:

• The Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research Network 2.0-Advancing Dementia Care (GEAR 2.0-ADC) emphasizes community member inclusion in all research phases.
• Traditional grant review processes often lack direct patient and public input.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a novel grant review structure integrating community members, including persons living with dementia.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of this community-driven approach in selecting pilot research grants.

Main Methods:

• Adapted traditional grant application review structures with input from community members.
• Established the GEAR 2.0-ADC Community Review Committee.
• Facilitated community member participation in all three rounds of grant application review and selection.

Main Results:

• Community members, including persons with dementia, actively and effectively participated in the grant review and selection process.
• The community review process complemented the traditional scientific review.

Conclusions:

• The GEAR 2.0-ADC Community Review Committee approach successfully integrated patient and public involvement in research grant evaluation.
• This model offers a flexible and effective framework for PPI in grant reviews across various medical specialties.