The UF team developed a curriculum for the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UF CTSI) Citizen Scientist Program, where community members collaborate on clinical research teams. Administered by UF CTSI and the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium, Citizen Scientists work closely with UF researchers, providing lay perspectives on proposal reviews, patient recruitment, and other areas requiring stakeholder engagement.
To meet the need for instructional materials, the UF team created an online, self-paced curriculum. This curriculum includes modules on research ethics, clinical and translational science, stakeholder engagement, cultural diversity, and biomedical informatics. It features videos, case studies, and resources led by subject matter experts. The curriculum offers three levels of certification: minimal, moderate, and sustained engagement.
Customizable for other institutions, this training is available as an open educational resource (OER), accessible to anyone for free, supporting UF’s goals of community involvement and socially responsible research practices.