Program Description

Advances in biomedical sciences have produced new well-proven treatments that address many chronic diseases and health conditions. Improvement of health at the community level from these treatments has been limited, partially due to the sub-optimal translation of scientific findings into clinical practice. Biomedical advances are constrained at two points. First, basic discovery in genomics, bioengineering, and other basic sciences is not effectively "translated" into new therapies with demonstrable clinical and public health value (an obstacle from bench to bedside). Second, effective therapies are not rapidly and consistently implemented in clinical practice and may not be sensitive to the social and cultural needs of research participants, patients, and providers (an obstacle from bedside to clinical practice). These constraints, in addition to the growing diversity of the U.S. population, contribute to the health disparities, challenging our health system. In the CTSC Community Engagement program, this component focuses on impediments for the second translational step, and we aspire to "do things better."

The overall goal of the Community Engagement Program is to enhance research capacity and strengthen the infrastructure for clinical and translational research by working collaboratively and forging connections among community members, provider groups, and investigators in our research programs; this requires both external and internal collaborations. To accomplish this overall purpose, the Community Engagement Program's structure and functions is organized to achieve the following specific objectives:

Foster collaborative partnerships and enhance public trust by:

1. Building on our infrastructure to strengthen our existing community ties and develop new partnerships with local communities in the Sacramento and larger Central Valley areas.
2. Developing new outreach and educational programs for local community groups, based on models that we currently use with our partners, and additional community input to improve the dissemination of results of research investigations while communicating the benefits of participating in clinical and translational research.
3. Supporting the efforts of investigators to recruit and retain under-represented minorities, the economically impoverished, and geographically isolated individuals into research studies.
4. Soliciting meaningful input from communities to prioritize the research issues and health needs most relevant to their members, as well as suggestions and feedback on pertinent aspects of the design and conduct of research to fit the target community and ensure trust and support.
5. Providing training and consultation for investigators and their staff in community-based participatory research and in the design and conduct of culturally and linguistically appropriate interactions with research participants. 
6. Providing the capacity for qualitative research to strengthen the validity of investigations and assist in the interpretation, translation, and direction of research findings.

Provide capacity for research in community practice sites by:

1. Promoting communication and collaboration in clinical research with the UC Davis network of primary care providers and with organizations of providers serving under-represented groups.
2. Providing consultation and training to investigators conducting practice-based research.
3. Facilitating the collection of practice data through access to the electronic medical record used in primary care.

Monitor and evaluate the achievement of Community Engagement program objectives in order to document successes and identify challenges or barriers requiring changes in policies and/or practices.