National Center for Engagement in Diabetes Equity Research: National CEDER

Project Summary: Overall Of the ~37 million Americans with diabetes, 90–95% have type 2 diabetes (T2D).1 T2D and diabetes complications disproportionately impact United States (U.S.) racial and ethnic minority communities. Additionally, populations with low socioeconomic status (SES), those living in rural areas, and low-resourced communities bear a disproportionate burden of diabetes illness. Advancing equity in T2d disparities necessitates addressing the social determinants of health; enhancing engagement in the research process; and trans- disciplinary collaboration that incorporates multi-level interventions and methods of analysis, pragmatic designs that enhance implementation and dissemination of effective strategies, and mixed-methods approaches. The overall goal of the National Center for Engagement in Diabetes Equity Research: National CEDER is to strengthen the engagement of communities and individuals from diverse backgrounds and sectors in T2D research across the U.S. through a public–private partnership of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine (SoM), UCLA SoM, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, American Diabetes Association, Health People, and Vision y Compromiso. Our national reach is amplified through an expansive partnership of 18 academic institutions, including schools of public health, schools of medicine, and minority-serving institutions; and 10 regional and national community based organizations reaching diverse African American, Latinx, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities. National CEDER, which comprises three synergistic cores, including an Administrative Core, Stakeholder Engagement Studio Core, and Research Consultation Services Core, aims to: 1. Strengthen established community-engaged, multi-sectoral regional partnerships to create a centralized, national network infrastructure designed to foster equitable engagement in T2D research; 2. Accelerate equitable engagement of diverse communities and sectors through a partnership hub model and integrated SDOH and health equity frameworks that will inform T2D research priorities and methods; 3. Use community engagement, implementation science, cultural adaptation, and intersectionality frameworks to improve uptake of research principles, methods and engagement strategies in T2D research through a robust studio and consultancy model rooted in bi-directional capacity building and co-leadership between community, healthcare, municipal, and research partners; and 4. Collaborate with researchers from diverse disciplines and multi-sector stakeholder groups to synthesize and disseminate best practices and lessons learned in advancing equitable, sustainable, and replicable community engagement across the T2D research spectrum. National CEDER efforts will foster community-led and -informed T2D equity research by integrating community engagement across the research spectrum.