Planting the Seeds for Building Research Capacity in Communities: Experiences of a Community-Based Research Network

Background: Nurturing academics’ and communities’ capacity to conduct community-engaged research holds great promise for effectively addressing health disparities. However, how to best support collaborations beyond individual projects and across an entire community is unclear. Objectives: This study describes the development and structure of a community-based research network in Cleveland, Ohio. It examines the experiences of academic investigators and community members with the community-based research network and highlights lessons learned. Methods: The mixed-methods study employed surveys, observations, and focus group data to examine participants’ experiences. Results: Academic investigators found the community-based research network to be valuable across all phases of research. Community members gained knowledge and felt it was a safe space to share their expertise and experiences. Participants generally appreciated being in a space to connect with others who shared their interests. Conclusion: The findings suggest that community-level research support can help encourage and advance academic/community research partnerships while broadening members’ knowledge and networks.