Fostering Collaborative Community-Based Clinical and Translational Research—May 15, 2007

Workshop Summary

The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) convened a 1-day workshop focusing on key barriers to and enablers of effective academic-community partnerships for clinical and translational research. The workshop was held in conjunction with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Practice-Based Research Networks 2007 National Research Conference. The goal of the workshop was to identify strategies and best practices for conducting collaborative community-based research, particularly in minority communities and other medically underserved communities where health disparities persist. Key topics of discussion included the following:

  • Addressing racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in clinical research participation;
  • Building community buy in and trust to enhance recruitment and retention of research participants;
  • Development of practical research protocols that work effectively in community healthcare settings and address questions of relevance to the community, including chronic conditions with multiple associated morbidities; and
  • Development of versatile and sustainable core research infrastructure (e.g., personnel, information technology, and informatics tools) to enable and encourage community participation and leverage existing infrastructure, including increasingly advanced clinical information systems residing in safety-net community health center networks.

NCRR will conduct a follow-on workshop in Los Angeles, CA, on September 14, 2007. Information about the September workshop can be found at the following URL: http://www.esi-bethesda.com/ncrrworkshops/NCRRFostering/index.aspx

The products of these workshops will include specific recommendations for NCRR initiatives to enhance clinical and translational research in underserved communities. The workshops will also encourage efforts to strengthen existing partnerships and build new partnerships among government agencies, academic organizations, and private sector organizations that are working to improve health care and community health outcomes. A preliminary report on recommendations from the May 15 workshop will be posted on this Web site soon. A full report covering both workshops will be posted after the September meeting.