Pearl A. McElfish*, Robin Liston, Veronica Smith, Amber K. Norris, Jordan Weaver, Scott M. Dickson, Michael D. Macechko, Ronald K. Brimberry, Mimo R. Lemdja, Toni L. Middleton, Matthew W. Nix, Katherine A. Irish-Clardy, Sandra M. Meredith-Neve, Joshua L. Kennedy, Laura P. James
McElfish et al. J Clin Transl Res 2023; 9(2):8
Published online: March 28, 2023
Abstract
Background: To address the high prevalence of health disparities and lack of research opportunities among rural and minority communities, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) developed the Rural Research Network in January 2020.
Aim: The aim of this report is to describe our process and progress in developing a rural research network. The Rural Research Network provides a platform to expand research participation opportunities to rural Arkansans, many of whom are older adults, low-income individuals, and underrepresented minority populations.
Methods: The Rural Research Network leverages existing UAMS Regional Programs family medicine residency clinics within an academic medical center.
Results: Since the inception of the Rural Research Network, research infrastructure and processes have been built within the regional sites. Twelve diverse studies have been implemented with recruitment and data collection from 9,248 participants, and 32 manuscripts have been published with residents and faculty from the regional sites. Most studies were able to recruit Black/African American participants at or above a representative sample.
Conclusions: As the Rural Research Network matures, the types of research will expand in parallel with the health priorities of Arkansas.
Relevance to patients: The Rural Research Network demonstrates how Cancer Institutes and sites funded by a Clinical and Translational Science Award can collaborate to expand research capacity and increase opportunities for research among rural and minority communities.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.09.202302.008
Author affiliation
1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Springdale, AR, United States of America
2. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
3. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences East, Helena-West Helena, AR, United States of America
4. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences North Central, Batesville, AR, United States of America
5. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northeast, Jonesboro, AR, United States of America
6. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, Fayetteville, AR, United States of America
7. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences South, Magnolia, AR, United States of America
8. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences South Central, Pine Bluff, AR, United States of America
9. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Southwest, Texarkana, AR, United States of America
10. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences West, Fort Smith, AR, United States of America
*Corresponding author
Pearl A. McElfish
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest, 2708 S. 48th St, Springdale, AR 72762, United States of America.
Phone: +1 479 713 8680
Email: pamcelfish@uams.edu
Handling editor:
Michal Heger
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, the Netherlands
Department of Pharmaceutics, Jiaxing University Medical College, Zhejiang, China
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