Community engagement in the CTSAs: An analysis of grant application plans

Background: In 2005, the NIH announced a funding mechanism, the Clinical and Translational Science Award Program (CTSA), which focuses on facilitating the transfer of research-generated knowledge from the bench to the bedside to the community. Among other things, grant funding is dependent on an institution's plans for community engagement (CE). This strategy of institution-wide engagement, rather than project-specific CE, represents a shift in paradigm and may offer innovative models for CE. Methods: This project draws themes across all funded CTSA grant submissions' from 2005 and 2010 renewals from community engagement sections. Using qualitative content analysis, applications were coded according to: partner communities; structures, processes and strategies for engagement; and goals for CE. We compare each institution's 2005 and 2010 applications and review the corresponding NIH Requests For Applications to understand the relationship between the language of the RFAs and the applications. Results: Results will be presented on the key types of communities highlighted thru CE sections, the key strategies for engagement institutions have used, and the types of supports and challenges encountered. The degree to which plans are modified in response to experiences also will be documented. Additionally, innovation in the structures, processes and strategies for CE at the institution will be presented. Conclusion: This study is among the first to systematically describe CE within the CTSAs. The potential for innovation within the program is high, and the results of this study may point the way for future institution-community partnerships. In particular, the institution-community paradigm may increase sustainability of partnerships.