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. 2025 Jul 7;9(1):e156.
doi: 10.1017/cts.2025.10085. eCollection 2025.

The research equity and diversity initiative (READI): Changing the face of clinical research through community outreach and engagement

Sally Taylor  1 , Stephanie Freel  1   2 , Lynn Sutton  2 , Kenisha Bethea  2 , Leatrice Martin  3 , Julie McKeel  2 , Matthew Ray  2 , Perusi B Muhigaba  2 , Stella Quenstedt  2 , Amanda McMillan  2 , Taryn Cavanaugh Faulk  2 , Jenifer Allen  2 , Kiah Gaskin  1 , Richard Sloane  4 , Salimah El-Amin  2 , Annie Tsui  2 , Cindy Canty-Dumas  2 , Denise C Snyder  1   2 , Joseph McClernon  2 , Michelle Lyn  2 , Keisha L Bentley-Edwards  2 , Mina Silberberg  2 , Steven C Grambow  2 , Jessica Sperling  5 , Howard Eisenson  6 , Holly Biola  7 , Wanda Boone  8 , Rachel Galanter  9 , Tracie Locklear  10 , Sharleen Traynor  11 , Seronda Robinson  12 , William Pilkington  13   14 , L Ebony Boulware  14 , Nadine J Barrett  14 , Susanna Naggie  2
Affiliations

The research equity and diversity initiative (READI): Changing the face of clinical research through community outreach and engagement

Sally Taylor et al. J Clin Transl Sci. .

Abstract

Current evidence underscores a need to transform how we do clinical research, shifting from academic-driven priorities to co-led community partnership focused programs, accessible and relevant career pathway programs that expand opportunities for career development, and design of trainings and practices to develop cultural competence among research teams. Failures of equitable research translation contribute to health disparities. Drivers of this failed translation include lack of diversity in both researchers and participants, lack of alignment between research institutions and the communities they serve, and lack of attention to structural sources of inequity and drivers of mistrust for science and research. The Duke University Research Equity and Diversity Initiative (READI) is a program designed to better align clinical research programs with community health priorities through community engagement. Organized around three specific aims, READI-supported programs targeting increased workforce diversity, workforce training in community engagement and cultural competence, inclusive research engagement principles, and development of trustworthy partnerships.

Keywords: Clinical trials; community engagement; health equity; research training; translational research; workforce development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The listed authors on this paper do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
READI organizational structure.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Initial READI logic model.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Timeline and key outputs for READI. a) READI implementation timeline; b) key outputs achieved through READI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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