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FY25 Q1 Update: Reducing Administrative Barriers to Community-Engaged Research at Duke

Through ongoing discussions with groups such as the Community-Engaged Research Initiative, the Duke Cancer Institute, and other researchers and scholars across Duke, it is increasingly clear that there are hurdles to community partnerships. Duke is committed to tackling these barriers to enable meaningful and successful relationships with our community.

WORKING GROUP UPDATES

The Reducing Administrative Barriers to Community Engaged Research at Duke Initiative prioritized issues, and formed targeted working groups focused on:

  • IRB Training
    • Currently working with Duke Health IRB to:
      • Reduce unnecessary inclusion of community partners as outside Key Personnel (KP) by clarifying the KP policy, thus reducing the need for CITI training
      • Consider implementing a smaller set of modules for community members
  • Logistics (transportation, childcare, parking)
  • Compensation to agencies and individuals 
    • Draft “Compensating Stakeholders Decision Tree” is under review
    • Reached out to engage administrative partners
    • Draft “Community Partner Guide” with a focus on compensation is under development. 
  • Community partner toolkit
    • Progress: Just established

 

COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT

Webpage: 546 webpage views

Listserv: 92 members

Intake Form: 19 submissions

 

Interviews are ongoing with faculty, administrators and staff to understand barriers and potential solutions: Completed 30+ interviews thus far, and large compilation of issues identified.

 

If you have administrative complications related to community engaged research, questions about the CER initiative, or would like to get involved, please contact us. The team is interested in addressing and deeply understanding the hurdles our community members, and our researchers and scholars, experience when forging these important relationships.

Reducing Administrative Barriers to Community-Engaged Research

Priorities for Fall 2024 

  • Continue working group activities, with deeper engagement of research administration leaders and community partners 
  • Continue interviews, but with emphasis shifting to community partners 

Partnership Platform Rollout

Duke's Office of Durham & Community Affairs (DCA), a key contributor to this initiative, recently released their Partnership Platform

This digital platform, developed by DCA, helps document community-facing initiatives ongoing in Durham, surrounding areas, and the region. Researchers may find it useful in facilitating campus and community partnerships.