Lessons Learned From a Multi-State Community Engagement Approach to Rural Primary Care Research Readiness

Primary care serves as the first point of contact for many patients and offers important opportunities to expand participation in clinical and translational research among rural and less visible communities. However, geographic distance, workforce limitations, competing clinical demands, and limited alignment between research and local priorities have constrained rural primary care participation in research activities. In 2024, the National Institutes of Health launched the CARE for Health™ initiative to integrate research within routine primary care settings and engage rural communities. As part of this initiative, the Primary Care-Building Research Integration in Different Geographic Environments research hub was established within the Southwest Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation, the Clinical and Translational Science Award that serves New Mexico and Arizona. Primary Care-Building Research Integration in Different Geographic Environments uses community-engaged approaches to support rural primary care research readiness by aligning research efforts with clinic workflows, community priorities, and local capacity. Engagement activities included clinic-based discussions, Community Engagement Studios, learning collaboratives, and partnerships with community engagement professionals, Health Extension Regional Officers, and primary care practices across New Mexico and Arizona. This article presents engagement-informed and practice-oriented insights from engagement activities and introduces key domains of rural primary care research readiness, including relationship infrastructure, workflow capacity, communication preferences, digital readiness, and community alignment. Lessons learned may inform other translational science programs, practice-based research networks, and health research initiatives seeking to strengthen rural community-centered research partnerships.