Guiding Principles for Community-Engaged Research

These principles were developed by the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Community Advisory Board.

Approved September, 2008

• Long-term engagement
  Research investigators work through existing partnerships in the community when such partnerships exist. The level of partnership corresponds to each projects level of community interaction and impact.
• Mutual benefit
  Increased knowledge improves the health of the community and benefits both the community and the researchers/URMC.
• Mutual respect
  Researchers and community members work together with humility, candor, and mutual respect for expertise and cultural differences.
• Shared findings
  Research findings are shared with community partners and stakeholders.
• Enhanced community capacity
  Members of the "target community" for the research project are hired and trained where possible and appropriate, to help build and enhance community assets.
• Shared responsibility
  All partners (URMC and community partners) have obligations towards the project and the community.
• Evidence-based
  The best available evidence guides research relationships between URMC and the community, and best efforts are made to evaluate each project.
• Collaborative from start to finish^*
  There is a collaborative and equitable engagement of all partners in all key phases of the research including:
  • Identification of target population
  • Research objectives
  • Project organization
  • Interpretation of data
• Responsive to community priorities and perspectives *
  Community-based participatory research addresses health needs, interests, and priorities established by the community. Health is addressed from both individual and ecological perspectives (i.e., considering social, economic, cultural, and policy contexts).

^* These guidelines apply specifically to community-based participatory research.