Why is community-engaged research important?
Involving community members and patients in research is like including the solution in the equation.
Partnering with community members, particularly those from populations with higher cancer rates or other disparities in outcomes, through every stage of the research continuum provides opportunities for mutual learning and trust-building between communities and researchers. By working together, we create research that truly matters—driving real change improving cancer outcomes for everyone.
Recruitment & Retention Shared Resource Services
The Recruitment & Retention Shared Resource (R&RSR), based in the Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE), supports Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Cancer Consortium (the Consortium) members with projects addressing cancer health disparities in Washington. We facilitate community-academic partnerships to encourage community and patient input at ALL stages of research, through the following services:
Culturally-Centered Research Support
- Review of research protocol and study design
- Evaluation of recruitment, retention and data collection strategies and tools
- Study promotion & recruitment support (in-person/telephone/email)
- In-person and virtual health education presentations
- Interview and focus group support
Connections Between Community and Researchers
- Meet with OCOE regional community advisory boards to receive direct feedback
- Network with community organizations, hospitals, clinics, etc. to engage partners in potential research collaborations
- Guidance on the creation of community advisory board
Technical Assistance
- Letters of support for community-engaged research projects
- Analysis and interpretation of catchment area cancer data
After a R&RSR request is submitted, an initial consultation will be scheduled to assess scope of work and timeline. If the level of support requires more than light involvement or dedicated staff effort, an estimate for services will be provided to the researcher after the initial consultation.
Research Resources
Community Engaged Research
Learn about using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles to authentically engage community in research.
- Series of 12 videos developed by OCOE faculty. This series provides an overview of the 11 CBPR principles with examples of how each assist in creating bidirectional community-researcher collaborations and engage all communities in research to address health disparities. Log into Hutch Learning to view.
- Wallerstein NB, Duran B. Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Address Health Disparities. Health Promotion Practice. 2006;7(3):312-323. doi:10.1177/1524839906289376.
- D'Alonzo KT. Getting started in CBPR: lessons in building community partnerships for new researchers. Nurs Inq. 2010 Dec;17(4):282-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1800.2010.00510.x. PMID: 21059145; PMCID: PMC3203531.
Engage community through Community Advisory Board (CAB) to co-create relevant research, study designs and recruitment strategies.
- Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Developing a Community Advisory Board for Research Toolkit
- Matthews AK, Anderson EE, Willis M, Castillo A, Choure W. A Community Engagement Advisory Board as a strategy to improve research engagement and build institutional capacity for community-engaged research. J Clin Transl Sci. 2018 Aug 8;2(2):66-72. doi: 10.1017/cts.2018.14. PMID: 31660220; PMCID: PMC6799353
- Newman SD, Andrews JO, Magwood GS, Jenkins C, Cox MJ, Williamson DC. Community advisory boards in community-based participatory research: a synthesis of best processes.Prev Chronic Dis. 2011 May;8(3):A70. Epub 2011 Apr 15. PMID: 21477510; PMCID: PMC3103575
- Connors E, Selove R, Canedo J, Sanderson M, Hull P, Adams M, McDermott I, Barlow C, Johns-Porter D, McAfee C, Gilliam K, Miller O, Cox N, Fadden MK, King S, Tindle H. Improving Community Advisory Board Engagement in Precision Medicine Research to Reduce Health Disparities. J Health Dispar Res Pract. 2019 Winter;12(6):80-94. PMID: 32832256; PMCID: PMC7442965
- Sanchez-Youngman S, Adsul P, Gonzales A, Dickson E, Myers K, Alaniz C, Wallerstein N. Transforming the field: the role of academic health centers in promoting and sustaining equity based community engaged research. Front Public Health. 2023 Jun 22;11:1111779. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1111779. PMID: 37457247; PMCID: PMC10345346
- Sheridan S, Schrandt S, Forsythe L, Hilliard TS, Paez KA; Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement (2013 inaugural panel). The PCORI Engagement Rubric: Promising Practices for Partnering in Research. Ann Fam Med. 2017 Mar;15(2):165-170. doi: 10.1370/afm.2042. PMID: 28289118; PMCID: PMC5348236. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28289118/
- Hudson D, Gilbert K, Goodman M. Promoting Authentic Academic-Community Engagement to Advance Health Equity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 7;20(4):2874. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042874. PMID: 36833570; PMCID: PMC9957457
Washington State Data
Cancer InFocusTM is a data gathering and visualization platform designed to make understanding the cancer burden in a geographic area. Data sources include Sate Cancer Profiles (SCP), American Community Survey (ACS), PLACES, EJScreen, USFDA, and many more. This platform was developed by the Community Impact Office at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.
Read our 2025 Community Health Assessment Report. Report from 2025 assessment of cancer burden across Washington.
Read our Conversations in WA Report. Report from 2021-2022 listening sessions with community-based organizations and healthcare organizations across Washington.
Research Topics and Opportunities
- GUIDE: This project's long-term goal is to create an effective structural intervention focused on increasing participation and representation in cancer clinical trials.
- Patient Navigation ACS Grant: The goal of this funded project is to improve access to timely, equitable cancer care to all patients in our clinics by adding critical navigation services for Hispanic/Latino/a/x underserved patients who speak Spanish for medical care.
- The Patient Needs and Outcomes Steering Committee provides oversight of health outcomes activities across Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and is responsible for the development and prioritization of the organization’s health outcomes strategy.
Read more on the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) pilot grant page. Funds are available from the Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium (“The Consortium”) Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) to support cancer-related pilot projects.
Listen to OCOE Heath Equity NOW! Podcast
Research Episodes include:
Season 5, Episode 3: Indigenous Representation in Research Part 2
Season 4, Episode 9: Indigenous Representation in Research
Season 4, Episode 5: Understanding Women’s Health through the Women’s Health Initiative
Season 4, Episode 3: Prostate Cancer Action and Advocacy with BACPAC
Multiple Myelomas Disparities
For our season premiere, we sit down and address the issues surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of Multiple Myeloma and breakthroughs in medicine and research as we look to address health outcomes with this rare cancer.
OCOE, CBPR Practices and Spokane
OCOE welcomes the new Community Health Educator, discuss our thoughts and experiences with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), and our new efforts in Spokane, WA.
Contact Us
We are available to talk about our research, engagement and outreach efforts and how we can support your work.
Mailing Address
The Office of Community Outreach and Engagement
1100 Fairview Ave. N.
Mail Stop M4-A402
Seattle, WA 98109