NCCU RCMI Practice-Based Equity Research Network (PBERN)

The Administrative Core (Admin Core) manages NCCU-RCMI-PBERN and supports harmonized engagement among primary care practices, practitioners, administrators and communities to conduct disease-agnostic health equity research. The Admin Core will form a patient/community advisory board (PCAB) and external advisory committee (EAC) for the consortium and work with the RCMI coordinating center to collect common data metrics; coordinate data management; and share data and research findings.

The Clinical Research Implementation Core (CRIC) provides training to expand cultural competency and skills in clinical and health services research methods, including training in implicit bias and implementation science. Additionally, it supports consortium members through methodology assistance such as biostatistics, data science and survey design.

The Community Engagement Core (CEC) involves primary care practices serving racial and ethnic minorities across NC and integrating voices of the community, patients and providers through consortium activities, along with community-designed health awareness and promotion efforts using NCCU mobile health units.

The Evaluation and Dissemination Unit (EDU) in the Admin Core continuously assesses and works closely with the other two cores (CRIC and CEC) and the RCMI coordinating center to develop and implement common metrics, share data and research findings with consortium members and the community. The EDU will also recommend implementing successful interventions by working with local and state agencies and health departments.

The Executive Committee (EC) is led by PI, Dr. Kumar, who is also the Primary Investigator of NCCU RCMI (Research Centers in Minority Institutions). Each EC member leads an organization critical for this consortium & will ensure integration to meet the goals and objectives of PBERN, similar to a steering committee.