The Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS), College of Education, and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) recently hosted the first event in the Spring 2024 Community-Engaged Research Series, Navigating the IRB for Community-Engaged Research. Aimed to share best practices, while recognizing the perspectives of both community-engaged researchers and priorities of the IRB in this work, the event attracted more than 100 community-engaged researchers in 50 units and 10 colleges and schools across campus. A video recording and workshop resources are available.
During this event, Sarah Mumford, Director at the Office of Protection for Research Subjects (OPRS), and Kevin Tan, Professor and Associate Dean for Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the School of Social Work and former IRB member, led an interactive discussion of common scenarios, challenges, and considerations that arise when working with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for community-engaged research.
Tan framed the discussion by sharing his experience as both a community-engaged researcher and member of the IRB.
“There is a stark contrast between community-based participatory research and the traditional approach to research, and in community-engaged work we must reimagine IRB processes for the betterment of the community,” he said.
Following an overview of the IRB and community-engaged research, participants met in breakout rooms to discuss four case studies focused on seeking informed consent, navigating incentive challenges, study design considerations, and community roles.
Highlights from the discussion included how the different phases of a research project often require separate IRB protocols, the new consent and assent templates, and the complexities of being both a member of a Community Advisory Board and a research participant and how study design and assigned tasks may determine the appropriateness of this dual role. View the workshop resources folder on Box for each case study and a complete list of key takeaways.
“Right now, the national conversation across IRB is on community-based participatory research, an area that IRBs have recognized as a place where many don’t know quite what do or how to review it,” Mumford noted. The ideas generated during this event will inform a workshop she will lead at the annual meeting of the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program later this spring. The workshop aims to develop tools to help IRBs review these projects and provide resources for community-engaged researchers to communicate their project needs.
Event organizers will also work with Mumford to develop suggestions for a community-engaged research toolkit for Illinois researchers.
The next Spring 2024 Community-Engaged Research Series event, Addressing Inequity in Community-Engaged Research, will be held Apr. 19, and Doughnuts & Dialogue Meetup for Community-Engaged Researchers will take place on May 10.
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CSBS is dedicated to supporting innovative social and behavioral science from diverse disciplines to address major societal challenges. The center is involved in several public engagement efforts aimed at bringing social and behavioral science to the public as well as learning from the public to enhance this work. Please contact Elsa Augustine with questions or to get involved with CSBS’s public engagement efforts.
The College of Education’s Office of Public Engagement initiates and sustains partnerships between community partners and College of Education faculty, staff, and students in research, teaching, and service. Please contact Emily Stone with questions about public engagement in education.
IHSI’s Community-Academic Partnerships core creates and supports community and academic collaborations to improve health. The team promotes shared goals among partners to strengthen the community impact of health research. Please contact Celina Trujillo with questions or to discuss your community-based project needs.