Bridging the divide: barriers and facilitators to equitable community-academic partnerships in health research

This study contributes to the literature on equitable community-academic partnerships by offering actionable strategies grounded in lived experience. Emphasizing continuous engagement, co-leadership, and alignment with community-defined priorities, these findings support the development of culturally relevant, context-specific interventions that address health disparities in historically marginalized populations. The lessons from Arizona are transferable to other underserved regions, reinforcing the need for structural reforms and relationship-centered research practices.