Community–Academic Engagement Strategies to Foster Research Implemented by the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium’s Cancer Centers

Community outreach and engagement (COE) is an integral component of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers' efforts to affect the cancer burden in their catchment areas. We describe examples of community-informed research and bidirectional engagement strategies undertaken by cancer center COE teams across the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. Guided by the Continuum of Community Engagement Framework, examples of community engagement were described by COE teams from 11 centers. Four examples were selected to illustrate varying levels of bidirectional community engagement across cancer center programs. The most common strategies included disseminating information about research studies to community partners and the public, assisting community research partners in developing surveys, conducting community needs surveys to inform scientific focus, and facilitating scientists' communication with the community to assess the relevance of their research. Key challenges include garnering financial resources, motivating scientists to develop community partnerships, and creating ways to reimburse community members for their time. Although shared leadership is the highest level of engagement, it is not always practical or appropriate. Researchers should strive for bidirectional community engagement to inform research questions, foster research relevant to the community, and facilitate the translation of findings to reduce the cancer burden.