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.
Goals
This free training program, sponsored by the CTSI and the 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 of CBPR, as well as 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 training program.
Resources
Principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
Learn more about the principles of CBPR developed by the URochester Medicine Community Advisory Board.
Online Course on CBPR: A Partnership Approach for Public Health
Visit the Detroit Urban Research Center to take its free online CBPR course.
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 Program
The start date for the program is Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Class dates will be Wednesdays, September through mid-March 2027, and take place from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Some class dates are in person, and some will be virtual. Virtual events take place via Zoom. In-person meetings take place at the Center for Community Health & Prevention, 46 Prince St, Rochester, NY 14607, or within a community location.
Schedule
| Date & Time | Session Title | Presenters |
|---|---|---|
9/16/2026 4:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP)
| Group Meeting:
| Laura Sugarwala, John Cullen, Grace Kumetat
|
9/23/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at Connected Communities Neighborhood Hub
| Module 1: CBPR Foundations - Getting Grounded | Sherita Bullock, Executive Director, Healthy Baby Network Jin Xiao, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medicine |
9/30/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP
| Introduction to Activate, Connect, Transform (ACT) Framework | Reza Yousefi-Nooraie, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medicine |
10/7/2026 4:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at Connected Communities Neighborhood Hub | Module 2: CBPR in the real world: What is a good research question? | John Cullen, Clinical & Translational Science Institute Laura Sugarwala, Center for Community Health & Prevention |
10/14/2026 4:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP | Group Meeting
| John Cullen, Laura Sugarwala, Grace Kumetat
|
10/21/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual
| Module 3: Developing a CBPR Partnership – Creating the “Glue” for Relationship Building
| Brooke Levandowski, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medicine
|
10/28/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP
| Module 4: Grants and Evaluation Part #1 | Colin Fleming-Stumpf, AVP Grants, Rochester Regional Health |
11/4/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP | Module 5: Applying a CBPR approach through the entire research process/cycle | Jackie Dozier, Director of Community Health & Well-being, “The Combined Entity”, Legacy Common Ground Health
Danielle Alcéna-Stiner, University of Rochester School of Nursing
|
Saturday 11/14/2026 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM Foodlink Community Farm | The current CBPR training program cohort and past graduates will be invited to join this event. Let’s gather to network, learn and celebrate CBPR together! (This event is optional, but highly encouraged for the 2026-2027 cohort) | John Cullen, Laura Sugarwala, Grace Kumetat |
11/18/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual
| Module 6: Understanding, Reporting, and Disseminating Results | Charles Kamen, Department of Surgery, Cancer Control and Wilmot Community Outreach and Engagement (COE)
|
11/25/2026 | Thanksgiving Break: No Class |
|
12/2/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual | Module 7: Maintaining a CBPR Partnership – Spreading the “Glue” and Having it Stick
| Elizabeth McDade, Director, Rochester ENergy Efficiency & Weatherization (RENEW)
Katrina Korfmacher, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medicine |
12/9/2026 4:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP | Group Meeting | Laura Sugarwala, John Cullen, Grace Kumetat
|
12/16/2026 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual
| Module 8: Institutional Review Board | Sarah Mumford, Office of Human Subject Protection (OHSP), University of Rochester |
12/23/2026 & 12/30/2026 | Winter Break: No Class |
|
1/6/2027 4:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP
| Group Meeting | Laura Sugarwala, John Cullen, Grace Kumetat
|
1/13/2027 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual
| Module 9: Grants and Evaluation Part #2 | Margit Brazda Poirer, Grants4Good
|
1/20/2027 3:30 – 5:30 PM Virtual
| Module 10: Cancer Research Study | Francisco (Paco) Cartujano, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medicine |
1/27/2027 4:30 – 5:30 PM Location TBD | Module 11: Roc Health Data | Holly Sienkiewicz, Director of Research, “The Combined Entity”, Legacy Common Ground Health
Kathleen Holt, Center for Community Health and Prevention |
2/3/2027 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP
| Part 2: Activate, Connect, Transform (ACT) Framework | Reza Yousefi-Nooraie, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medicine |
2/10/2027 3:30 – 5:30 PM In Person at CCHP | Cohort Reflections | Laura Sugarwala, John Cullen, Grace Kumetat
|
2/17/2027 | Group meetings as needed to prepare for application to CBPR Pathway-to-Pilot grant application opportunity. Meeting location (ie virtual or in person) to be determined. | Laura Sugarwala, John Cullen, Grace Kumetat
|