Community-Based Participatory Research Training
Community-Based Participatory Research Training
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a collaborative approach to research that involves community members or recipients of interventions during all phases of the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each member of the research team brings.
This course is not currently accepting applicants.Notify When Available View Current Course
Goals
This free course, sponsored by the UR CTSI and Center for Community Health & Prevention, educates University researchers and community members in community-engaged research. It introduces CBPR principles from the foundations to communication, funding, and sustainability and fosters relationship-building among participants.
A key goal of the program is to support the formation of collaborative teams of Co-Principal Investigators, which include representatives from both the University of Rochester and community organizations.
In previous years, participants in the CBPR Training Program have had the opportunity to apply for CBPR Pathway-to-Pilot Awards to support the development of CBPR projects. Pending available funding, a Request for Applications (RFA) may be released at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 course for the $16,500 CBPR Pathway-to-Pilot Award to fund CBPR research activities in fiscal year 2026-2027.
By the end of the program, participants will:
- Understand the rationale for a CBPR approach in addressing health research.
- Describe the conceptual and philosophical roots of community-based participatory health research.
- Understand and apply the core principles of CBPR in developing, maintaining, and evaluating community-academic research partnerships.
- Evaluate the importance of governance structure, cultural humility, and participatory evaluation in the design and implementation of CBPR as strategies to address power dynamics and ethical issues appropriately.
- Explain and experience the process and challenges of forming and maintaining CBPR partnerships with communities.
- Assess the ethical challenges in co-conducting research with communities.
- Identify and discuss the benefits and challenges involved in CBPR and options for overcoming these challenges.
- Explore CBPR as a strategy to address engagement, policy, or systems-change issues.
Contact
For more information or questions, please contact Laura Sugarwala, MBA, RD, Director of Community Health Partnerships.
How to Apply
Eligibility
University researchers (including faculty, trainees, and students) and community members (typically from community-based organizations) are eligible to apply.
Cost
There is no cost to take the course.
Resources
Principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
Learn more about the principles of CBPR developed by the URMC Community Advisory Board.
Online Course on CBPR: A Partnership Approach for Public Health
Visit the Detroit Urban Research Center to take their free online course on CBPR.
Community-Based Participatory Research Pathway-to-Pilot Award
Visit the Community-Based Participatory Research Pathway-to-Pilot Award webpage to view funding opportunities and current projects.
Current Course
All in-person classes take place at the Center for Community Health & Prevention, 46 Prince St, Rochester, NY 14607. Virtual events take place via Zoom.
Schedule
| Date & Time | Session Title | Presenters |
|---|---|---|
9/16/2025 In Person | Group Meeting
| Laura Sugarwala and/or John Cullen |
9/23/2025 In Person | Module 1: CBPR Foundations - Getting Grounded | Sherita Bullock, Healthy Baby Network |
9/30/2025 In Person | Module 2: CBPR in the Real World – What’s a Good Research Question? | Joyce Duckles, Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development, Warner School of Education |
10/7/2025 In Person | Group Meeting
| Laura Sugarwala and/or John Cullen |
10/21/2025 Virtual | Module 3: Developing a CBPR Partnership – Creating the “Glue” for Relationship Building | Brooke Levandowski, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, URMC |
10/28/2025 In Person | Module 4: Grants and Evaluation Part #1 | Colin Fleming-Stumpf, Director of Grants, Rochester Regional Health |
11/5/2025 In Person | Module 5: Applying a CBPR approach through the entire research process/cycle | Silvia Sorenson, Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development, Warner School of Education |
11/18/2025 In Person | Group Meeting | Laura Sugarwala and/or John Cullen |
12/2/2025 Virtual | Module 6: Understanding, Reporting, and Disseminating Results | Charles Kamen, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, URMC |
12/9/2025 Virtual | Module 7: Maintaining a CBPR Partnership – Spreading the “Glue” and Having it Stick | Katrina Korfmacher, Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine, URMC |
1/13/2026 Virtual | Module 8: Dissemination and Implementation | Reza Yousefi-Nooraie, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, URMC |
1/20/2026 Virtual | Module 9: Institutional Review Board | Office of Human Subject Protection (OHSP) TBD |
1/27/2026 Virtual | Group Meeting / Prior Graduate Panel | AnnaLynn Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, URMC |
2/3/2026 Virtual | Module 10: Grants and Evaluation Part #2 | Margit Brazda Poirer, Grants4Good |
2/10/2026 Virtual | Module 11: Cancer Research Study | Francisco (Paco) Cartujano, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, URMC |
2/17/2026 Virtual | Module 12: Roc Health Data | Kathleen Holt, Staff Scientist, Center for Community Health and Prevention |
2/24/2026 | Cohort Reflections | Laura Sugarwala and/or John Cullen |
TBD | Group meetings as needed to prepare for the CBPR P2P grant application. Meeting location (ie, virtual or in person) to be determined. | Laura Sugarwala and/or John Cullen |
TBD | Pathways to Pilot Application Due |