Support for community engaged research

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Community Engaged Research Initiative

The CTSI Community Engaged Research Initiative (CERI) facilitates equitable, authentic, and robust community-engaged research to improve health. 

If you would like to participate in CERI’s programs, schedule a consultation, or have a question: Request a service here. 

How does CERI support the Duke research community?

  • By building capacity: We build research-ready communities and community-ready researchers.
  • By facilitating connections: We facilitate meaningful and equitable partnerships and collaborations between community stakeholders and academic investigators.
  • By fostering authentic communications: We foster transparent, bidirectional communication between community stakeholders and academic investigators.

CTSI recognizes that collaborating with the community in research is the foundation of improving public health. The goals of community engagement are to increase public trust in the research enterprise and to improve overall public health.

Community Engagement Programs & Services

Discover CERI's Programs and Services, which include the following:

  • African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Health Equity Advocates & Liaisons (HEAL) Partnership
  • Consultation services
  • E-library for community and research resources Visit the eLibrary.
  • Sparks program
  • Community Consultation Studio (CCS)
  • Education and Awareness Trainings on Community-Engaged Research
  • Examples from the Field
  • Population Health Improvement Awards

Partnering for Effective Research Collaborations (PERC)

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 clear that there are hurdles to community partnerships in multiple areas, including agreements, contracts, compensation, ethics review, training, proposals, transportation, and reimbursements. Duke is committed to tackling these barriers to enable meaningful and successful relationships with our community.

Visit the PERC website to find out more about the initiative.

Additional information and resources for community engaged research

  • Training requirement for community partners engaged in research (i.e., individuals involved in conducting the research with human subjects through an interaction or intervention for research purposes, including participating in the consent process by either leading it or contributing to it; and those who are directly involved with recording or processing identifiable private information, including protected health information, related to those subjects for the purpose of conducting the research study):
  • Key Personnel Policy: Updated in 2025 to provide additional clarity on when community partners are required to be including on Duke Health IRB protocols: