Community Engagement Studios

The importance of community engagement to effective research cannot be overstated. This is one reason why the Community Engagement team at UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) advocates the use of the Community Engagement Studio model developed by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Community-Engaged Research Core. This unique method features direct input from participating stakeholders to better inform research design and dissemination. It uses a structured approach to bring researchers and members of the community together, face-to-face (or virtually), for a bidirectional conversation around research studies.

What are Community Engagement Studios?

A Community Engagement Studio is a consultative model that allows researchers to receive direct input from the community on the development, implementation, and/or dissemination of a research project. The studio model creates a framework for stakeholders (or community experts) to provide immediate feedback to the researcher on specific areas of concern.

The studio model is:

• A one-time consultation
• A method to directly inform research in Buffalo/Western New York
• Bidirectional

The studio model is NOT:

• A standing advisory board
• A tool for recruiting research participants
• A tool for data collection such as a focus group
• Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

How does the studio model strengthen research? “The studios help us as an institution to show our commitment to conducting research that is influenced by the community voice,” CTSI Community Engagement Core Director Laurene Tumiel-Berhalter, PhD, explained in a CTSI feature article. “It makes our research more relatable and helps us avoid assumptions about our target populations that often contribute to challenges in recruitment and retention in studies. The Community Engagement Studio model can help us build trust in the community and can potentially have a positive impact on the overall design and conduct of the research.”

What are the logistics and costs? The CTSI Community Engagement Core budgets for a limited number of CE Studios at no cost to the researcher on a first-come, first-served basis. After the budgeted number of studio sessions are completed, there is a cost associated with the CE Studios to pay for planning, facilitators, and community experts. Please contact the Community Engagement team for a quote for your specific study.