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Welcome to The Community Research Exchange. Get the latest updates on Mayo Clinic's community-integrated and community-engaged research, including highlights from cancer outreach efforts, and inspiring impact stories from Arizona, Florida, the Midwest and beyond.

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You can shape the future of health research.

At Mayo Clinic, better research begins with you. When your voice and lived experience are part of the research process, studies become more powerful, more meaningful, and more connected to real-life needs.

If you're passionate about improving community health, here are three impactful ways you can get involved in Mayo Clinic research:

Raise your voice as a Community Scientist.

 

Become a research partner and advocate for better science as a Community Scientist. The Community Scientist Program is a deeply engaging experience that equips community members to collaborate with Mayo Clinic researchers. After 8 weeks of training and 6 weeks of hands-on experience, you will be able to combine your lived experience and science basics to help researchers collect data, interpret results, develop creative solutions to problems, and more.

Who Should Apply

  • Cancer survivors, caregivers, or advocates.
  • You must have a high school diploma or GED to participate.
  • Residents in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

What to Expect

  • Complete an 8-week virtual training (1-2 hours per week).
  • Complete a 6-week “hands-on” training with a research study team.
  • Collaborate on a research project for at least 12 months (approx. 5-6 hours a month)
  • Receive stipends for your time and contributions.

Get Started

Apply today to be considered for the next Community Scientist training. Questions? Contact us at csprogram@mayo.edu.

 

Share your lived experience as a Community Expert.

Whether you've navigated a diagnosis yourself or cared for someone who has, you hold valuable insights that can shape the future of health research.

By sharing your perspective in a Community Engagement (CE) Studio, you can:

  • Help researchers design studies that better reflect real-world needs.
  • Increase the impact and relevance of health research.
  • Learn about ongoing studies that affect your community.

 Who Should Register

  • You must be 18 years old or older to register.
  • No research background required—just your personal experience.

What To Expect

  • Join online zoom meetings or in person.
  • Share your ideas with researchers in a small group of people.
  • Personal details are removed to keep your identity safe.
  • Earn money for participating in each meeting.

Get Started

Register now to participate in a CE Studio. Questions? Contact us at mayocestudio@mayo.edu.

 

Represent your community through the Community Research Registry.

When everyone participates in research, the results are more useful and can help more communities. The Mayo Clinic Community Research Registry (MCCoRR) is for people from communities that have been left out of research in the past or who face challenges today in getting information or joining studies. It helps make clinical trials easier to access and gives more people the opportunity to take part in research and benefit from it.

Who Should Join

MCCoRR may be a great way to improve your access to clinical trials—especially if you’ve experienced one or more of the following life events, including but not limited to:
  • Living in a rural or remote area.
  • Having a disability.
  • Your age, background, language, culture, or life experiences affect how you get health care.
  • You have experienced financial hardship or limited access to education, job opportunities, or safe neighborhoods.

What to Expect

  • When you sign up, you’ll receive updates about research studies.
  • You can participate in opportunities online, in person or both.
  • Joining is your choice, and you can remove yourself from the MCCoRR at any time.

Get Started

Join the Mayo Clinic Community Research Registry today. Questions? Contact us at MCCoRR@mayo.edu.

Contact Us

Whether you want to dive deep into science, share your lived experience, or participate in a study, Mayo Clinic has meaningful ways to help you shape the future of health research. Questions? Contact us at csprogram@mayo.edu.