This essay from the National Institutes of Health (NIU) explores conflicts that arise between scientific and community interests during community-based participatory research. The authors suggest that potential conflicts can be managed through written agreements between investigators and community partners at the beginning of a study, sometimes with the help of a third party. In certain situations, it may even be useful to publish a dissenting opinion when researchers and community partners cannot agree on an interpretation of findings.

The Summer Institute is designed to bring together participants from universities and community-based organizations around the country. University-community research teams are encouraged to apply for participation. Each institute provides a five-day training designed to introduce participatory action research (PAR) to graduate students, faculty, and members of community-based organizations. The trainings run May 27-31, 2014, and June 9-13, 2014 at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City.