Starting a CAB

Community Advisory Boards (CABs) have been very influential in HIV research implementation and community acceptance. CABs’ involvement in research has led to many positive outcomes, including: identifying community needs and disparities in HIV research, improving research proposals and strategies, increasing the acceptance of research implementation in the community, improving research literacy among community members, and building the capacity of community members to take on leadership roles in their communities (Adams, 2014; Morin, 2003; Delaney, 2012). While CABs have a positive impact on the implementation of clinical trials and the outcomes of local HIV research, their impact on guiding and influencing research and funding priorities has been limited.

Currently, the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) program at the National Institutes of Health play an important role in driving HIV research, increasing collaboration among HIV research disciplines (including basic sciences, clinical trials, epidemiology, and behavioral research), mentoring new investigators, and providing technical support to HIV researchers across 19 universities. CFARs began to support the development of Community Advisory/Action Boards (CABs) for their CFARs in the early 2000s. CFAR CABs are composed of community members, representatives from community-based organizations, HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Network CAB members, and CFAR researchers and administrators. The central mission of each of the CABs is to increase research capacity of communities and develop relationships and collaborations between HIV researchers and community members.

If you are interested in starting a CAB at your institution, please email the N3C CAB Coordinator.