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

Announcing the PERC Administrative Barriers Survey!

Please take a moment to complete the survey about administrative barriers in your community-engaged research projects.

Responses will guide PERC's planning efforts for 2026. Please share this survey with others.

WORKING GROUP UPDATES

The Partnering for Effective Research Collaborations (PERC) Working Group prioritized issues and formed groups targeting specific areas impacting community-engaged research.

Transportation and Childcare

PERC wants to hear from you!  If you have experienced challenges navigating transportation issues in your community-engaged research (CeR), please complete this survey.

IRB Process

PERC is introducing new tools to streamline the IRB approval process. An interactive decision tool now helps project teams identify required documents and procedures based on the type of community partner and activities involved. For DUHS IRB projects, three additional resources support IRB review and approval with key information for reviewers, aiming to streamline the review and approval process.  

These and other helpful resources can be found on the new page in myRESEARCHpath dedicated to Community-Engaged Research. 

The PERC team extends its gratitude to both IRBs, the contract offices, and all who contributed to the development of these resources.

Language Access and Resources

PERC has been gathering information on existing language translation options at Duke and working to expand opportunities. 

Language translation policies and services for community-engaged research can be found on the Language Access and Resources page. This is a developing resource and will be updated with additional information and policies once they are available. 

Additionally, PERC has been endeavoring to provide translated versions of research policies and procedures for community partners; including: 

Spanish version of instructions on CITI Training for Community Partners.

Additional Working Group Updates

For a full listing of issue-focused working groups and their outcomes during the 2024-2025 timeframe please see the PERC 2024-2025 Annual Report

Working group activity from 2025 - 2026 will be shared on PERC's progress page.

For a full listing of issue-focused working groups and their outcomes during the 2024-2025 timeframe please see the PERC 2024-2025 Annual Report

Priorities for Winter 2025

  • Survey internal Duke staff and external partners to learn if PERC has addressed previously identified concerns or if there are new barriers to be identified
  • Develop metrics to assess PERC's communication and outreach activities to Duke faculty and staff as well as community research partners
  • Continue developing resources addressing administrative barriers for community engaged research

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

The PERC Working Group is in its second year!

For an overview of the Partnering for Effective Research Collaborations (PERC) Working Group's activities from year 1, please check out our annual report.

COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT

If you are interested in PERC presenting at a meeting you host, please contact us.

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.