Bronx community research review board

Background. The Bronx Community Research Review Board (BxCRRB) is a community-academic partnership between the Einstein-Montefiore Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and the Bronx Health Link (TBHL). As an alternative to individually-initiated de novo community consultations, we have developed a novel structural approach for community-based consultation, review, and education in research planning, implementation and dissemination. Objectives. Our goals are to collaboratively develop (1) an independent volunteer research review board comprising community residents and representatives to test a model of community-based consultation and informed consent by reviewing research proposals; (2) a training curriculum for potential BxCRRB board members regarding the protection of communities and human subjects; (3) evaluations of BxCRRB's success in promoting community trust in and public understanding of academic and clinical research partnerships; and (4) increased community involvement in clinical research. Results. TBHL has recruited and trained two cohorts of community participants in research ethics and process review. Board membership reflects Bronx demographics (i.e., half Latino and one-third African-American). The BxCRRB has reviewed nine research proposals, some from conceptualization to completion. Investigators have reported results and discussed follow-up plans. Board members also participated in NIH-sponsored meetings in Boston and Manhattan, including a national forum on best practices with similar community-based research review committees. The Board has presented at Einstein, begun dialogue with its IRB on mutual collaboration, and is developing a mission statement and by-laws. Columbia's Institute for Clinical and Translational Science has conducted a formal process evaluation, which will be presented in our poster.