Recruitment Services and Resources

Recruitment is a critical factor in the success or failure of clinical research including trials. The impact goes beyond the study to the health of our community and its citizens.

Recruitment help

Consult with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Recruitment Team.

The importance of recruitment

Failing to meet recruitment goals can:

  • Delay the development of new medical treatments and therapies
  • Prolong the amount of time it takes for the research to actually impact population health
  • Increase staffing and overhead costs, as well as other administrative costs
  • Lead to an inability to draw conclusions because of loss of statistical power

Furthermore, enhancing the diversity of participants is imperative to reflecting the many different communities in our area. The recruitment of underrepresented populations is key to ensuring that medical discoveries are appropriate and effective for everyone. Addressing barriers to participation can increase the diversity of participants and positively impact relationships between the academic and local community.

What services does UB's Clinical and Translational Science Institute offer to assist with recruitment?

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s (CTSI) Community Engagement Core and the Recruitment and Special Populations Core faculty and staff offer services to assist research teams with recruitment.

Community Engagement

Recruitment and Special Populations
  • Project development
  • Recruitment planning
  • Community engagement recruitment assistance, including the creation of culturally sensitive recruitment and dissemination materials
  • Assistance for research teams in writing consent forms as well as training coordinators and assistants in informed consent best practices
  • Integrating the community into research
  • Advertising design and marketing
  • Linking researchers with appropriate community partners
  • Recruitment tactics assistance
  • Insight on recruitment tools and compensation models
  • Dissemination

        Online request portal for consultation

         Online request portal for consultation

What resources are available to assist with recruitment?

Recruitment Resources Toolkit

  • A CTSI guide for researchers who want to enhance recruitment for their research studies.

Participate in Research Portal

  • An online portal listing research studies at the University at Buffalo.

Buffalo Research Registry

  • The CTSI registry of Western New Yorkers who have shown interest in being research study volunteers. Potential participants fill out a health profile that is used to match them with eligible research studies based on the information they provide and the interests they have indicated. The Buffalo Research Registry is designed to connect willing volunteers and researchers quickly and appropriately.

ResearchMatch

  • A national registry of people interested in volunteering for research studies.

How much time does it take to receive assistance with recruitment?

After you have submitted your request through the online CTSI request portal, typically you will receive a response within 24-48 hours during the work week. Once CTSI staff review the study materials, they will ask for a meeting (by phone or in person) to ask and answer questions, present strategies, and confirm that they understand what's needed from them, so you can best accomplish your goals.

Additional references

Visit the CTSI website for more information about Community Engagement Core and Recruitment and Special Populations Core services.