Institutionalizing Community-engaged Translational Science in an Academic Institution: A Community Stakeholder-Driven Process

Abstract: Background: Although studies have described the power imbalance in academic-community partnerships, little has been published describing how community-based participatory research–informed practitioners can change academic institutions to promote more effective community-engaged research. Objectives: This paper describes a university-funded community-based participatory project in which academic researchers and their community partners worked together to articulate, develop and advocate for institutionalizing best practices for equitable partnerships throughout the university. Methods: Findings derive from a collaborative ethnographic process evaluation. Results: The study describes the integral steps proposed to promote equitable community–university research collaboration, the process by which these principles and best practice recommendations were developed, and the institutional change outcomes of this process. Conclusions: When universities make even small investments toward promoting and nurturing community-engaged research, the quality of the science can be enhanced to advance health equity and community–university relationships can improve, particularly if based on trust, mutual respect, and openness to accomplish a shared vision.