Research is very important to understand behaviors, diseases, and identify opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of communities. At the VCU Health Hub at 25th, we support research that champions solutions that make it difficult for many communities to be as healthy as possible. We support research that values community voice and input and focuses on the strengths of a community.
Research process
VCU Health Hub at 25th Research Process:
- Establish interest: You want to conduct research for your study at or with the VCU Health Hub at 25th.
- Alignment: Are you committed to building a bridge between research and the community, providing some immediate benefit in education, resources or referrals about your research issues?
- Learn: Sign up to present an introduction to research at the VCU Health Hub at 25th. You will provide a short overview of your research to be shared at the introduction session. Session details and format will be provided.
- Reach Out to the Health Hub: Email vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu and state your research project.
- Sign MOU: Complete a memorandum of understanding with the VCU Health Hub at 25th.
- Conduct research: Implement the approved research study at the VCU Health Hub at 25th.
- Dissemination: Return for a data dissemination community meeting.
- Educational session program: Consider providing an educational session specific to your research topic.
Advancing Health for All
We support research that focuses on improving health outcomes for all people, particularly those who face greater challenges due to where they live, work, or their economic conditions. Our goal is to ensure everyone has a fair opportunity to live a healthy life, free from preventable illness, violence, injury, or limited choices.
Research transparency
Researchers will be expected to return to a community meeting to present their main results, and we hope you will join us at such events. At such meetings, you will be able to learn how your participation made a difference, and you will have the opportunity to ask the researcher about their next steps and plans in the community.
Community engagement
The community will have various opportunities to participate in research that will focus topics of importance to the East End community. However, your participation is always your choice, your decision. You should never feel that you have to participate in any research. Before you participate in any research, feel free to ask any questions to ensure that it is what you want to do. Sometimes researchers offer a small stipend as a thank you, and other times, researchers do not have the funds to provide a stipend. Again, it is your choice to participate or not.
Relevance
We want to conduct research relevant to the community and make a difference. Feel free to ask any questions about research, and most importantly, feel free to tell us what you would like to have researched. Your voice is essential, and we genuinely value your input. Please remember, research is a long process with various steps. Understandably, communities are often frustrated that they do not see the results of research. Therefore, at the health hub, researchers will be asked to share their results, discuss their next steps with the community, and offer educational programming in that area.
Our approach to research at the VCU Health Hub at 25th is as a long-term partnership with the East End community and, most importantly, making sure we address the community's needs.