The goal of the Duke Center for Community Research (DCCR), led by Dr. Lloyd Michener, is to work with communities to better understand their concerns, and to find ways to move proven technologies and therapies more quickly out into community practice so that they improve health, especially of under-represented minorities. DCCR intends to help community groups find solutions to their health concerns.

The DCCR leverages the talent of the academic research community to collaboratively create a training, research, and liaison system that will effectively and systematically involve the community in clinical and translational research training, priority setting, participation, and follow-up.

The DCCR will build upon existing programs that have established a symbiotic Duke-community research relationship, building capacity with the community to frame and undertake research, and at the same time building capacity within Duke to work cooperatively in effective, community-centered projects. This paradigm is based on the shared goal of improving the health of the community.

As the interactive arm between Duke and the communities it serves, DCCR is designed to be accountable to both. The DCCR operates under the guidance of a Community Advisory Board and an Executive Steering Committee, and utilizes a number of Workgroups (see below) to develop innovative collaborative approaches to improving the health of communities.

DCCR Workgroups for Projects and Issues

While DDCR support faculty and staff are preparing the DCCR training for both researchers and community agencies, a number of grants are already coming together that include Duke researchers and Durham community partners. DCCR support faculty and staff are working with the investigators to frame their projects, and helping them work with populations and local organizations. In addition, DCCR leadership, support faculty and staff are working with faculty and staff as well as resource and compliance entities across the institution on issues and opportunities that directly impact the development of community-engaged research pathways.

Coming soon:

• Projects and grants in progress
• Issue Groups Working Since October, 2006

Duke Community-Linked Research Programs