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UNC School of Medicine | UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Researchers

Researchers play a pivotal role in ensuring the work of UNC Lineberger addresses the cancer care needs of North Carolinians. Community engagement is the meaningful involvement of the community in research, clinical care and programs. Researchers should consider community engagement in their projects because:

lightbulb iconIt enables us to better understand and serve the population’s needs, making our research more timely and relevant.
icon of hand holding a bag of moneyIt allows for increased funding as grant proposals are increasingly asking for intentional COE plans.
icon of person with flag at top of mountinCommunity engagement connects us to our mission – to serve the entire state as NC’s only public NCI designated cancer center

Six Ways to Engage With the Community

Cartoon illustration with 5 individuals sitting at a round table, one is wearing a lab coat, and all of them have paper and pens in front of them.

#1: Research Collaboration & Co-Creation

Engage non-scientists as partners in your research process:

  • ​Identify research topics/study ideas ​
  • Review and participate in grant proposals or abstracts
  • Review and advise on study materials or consent forms
  • Co-author a presentation or manuscript
  • Utilize a Community or Patient Advisory Board
A person in a white coat with a microphone is standing and presenting in front of a group of people

#2: Public Presentations and Media Outreach

Share your work via:​

  • Lab tours​
  • Community organization talks​
  • Patient advocate group talks​
  • TV / radio interviews​
  • Social media features
1 person in a white coat and 3 other people sitting at a round table, with the North Carolina state flag behind them.

#3: Board Service and Leadership

Provide expertise / service to:​

  • Non-profit boards​
  • Health advocacy groups
  • State-level councils
A person in a white coat speaking in front of 3 of people who are seated at a table with a logo on the front

#4: Expert Testimony​

Provide research, data, or expert testimony to policy-making organizations
A person in a white coat giving a vaccine to one person with a line of other people behind them.

#5: Out in the Community

Participate or partner in:​

  • Community-based health efforts​
  • Health screenings for NC citizens​
  • Community-led functions​
  • Other outreach

A person in a white coat with a microphone in front of a screen that displays the UNC Lineberger logo standing in front of 4 other people.

#6: Institutional Engagement

Engage patient/community advisors:​

  • UNC Lineberger Community Advisory Board (CAB)​
  • Patient Advocates for Research Council (PARC)​
  • Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) for the NC Basnight Cancer Hospital

Contact us

Are you interested in building a collaborative partnership with patients and/or community? Our team can talk with you about where you see the community interacting with you, help you find community members that have similar interests, and give guidance on how to approach them to ensure cultural humility.

Please complete our Contact Form to reach out to our office.