C12 - Enhancing Inclusion in a Time of Division

Despite the growing recognition of the importance of broad inclusion and engagement of a range of people in research, there continues to be recognition and concern about how the marginalization of important groups in society and a generally divisive political landscape impact attitudes toward research and certain research participants. As HRPP and research ethics professionals, how do we effectively promote practices that engender trust and facilitate inclusion of groups that have been excluded or marginalized? Many efforts to address these issues in the past have been rooted in and focused on the informed consent process and building in additional protections for research. However, significant tensions can exist between a culture of protection, which can be inadvertently paternalistic, and a culture of inclusion. This session will explore how to balance protection vs. inclusion approaches to promote inclusion and engagement of a range of populations in research, enhance inclusion and trust during divisive times, and build programs to assist researchers in recognizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion for research and how to conduct community outreach/engagement.