Research services

Study Planning

Centro SOL collaborates with researchers in the planning stages of research to assess the feasibility and cultural appropriateness of proposed studies. This assessment considers numerous aspects including but not limited to recruitment, methodology, literacy levels, and cultural norms. Latino Family Advisory Board (LFAB) or Youth Advisory Board (YAB) feedback may be requested at this stage or later in study development.

Material Review

Centro SOL collaborates with researchers by reviewing English or Spanish study materials that affect participants such as consent and assent forms, recruitment materials, survey materials, interview guides, and others. Materials are reviewed to assess their use of plain language for health literacy and appropriateness for the target population. Centro SOL no longer provides translation services.

The majority of materials reviewed by Centro SOL require approval from the IRB. We highly recommend collaborating with Centro SOL for material review prior to submitting to the IRB. The Latino Family Advisory Board (LFAB) and Youth Advisory Board (YAB) are key resources for reviewing study materials.

You can find more information about material review here.

Participant Recruitment

Centro SOL assists researchers to develop strategies to recruit Latinx populations for studies, especially those with limited English proficiency (LEP) and/or low literacy. The Latino Family Advisory Board (LFAB) or Youth Advisory Board (YAB) can contribute to these strategies or directly assist with recruitment through their networks.

Participant recruitment at the former Children’s Medical Practice was discontinued, as the clinic is now an FQHC managed by Baltimore Medical System.

Study Staff Recruitment

Centro SOL assists researchers to develop appropriate personnel profiles for study staff working with Latinx populations, especially those with limited English proficiency (LEP). This assistance may include the development of job descriptions and the identification of resources to verify language proficiency of applicants. Centro SOL also maintains working relationships with a number of student and community organizations with bilingual members and can share job announcements with those networks.

Unfortunately, unless funded, our staff members cannot staff individual research studies. Please discuss your staffing needs during the research consultation.