The Reality of Vulnerable Research: Honoring Humanness Amid a Pandemic

This article describes the journey of a health equity research study that changed course due to challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the precarity of the population of focus. Although the mixed methods intervention and dance/movement therapy protocol did not transpire as intended, we gained much relevant insight from the 12-month process. We here highlight the original six-week protocol, recruitment efforts and important clinical observations during the recruitment phase, as well as a detailed synopsis in form of a case study of the one participant who completed the study. We also take a critical look at the limitations of clinical human research and raise the question when to pivot from or abort a project, keeping in mind what ultimately matters, the respect, value, and care of an individual. We close with implications for engaging in research with vulnerable communities.