From Ideas to Impact: CCTST Research Participant Advisory Group Contributes to the New Winslow Research Pavilion
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Cincinnati Children’s recently celebrated the opening of the Winslow Research Pavilion on May 5, 2026, adding new laboratory space and serving as the new home of the Vaccine Research Center, the Discover Together Biobank and a Freezer Archive for long-term storage of research samples.
Over the past decade, the Discover Together Biobank and the Vaccine Research Center have partnered with the CCTST Cincinnati Children’s Research Participant Advisory Council (CCHMC RPAC) and the CCTST West End Community Research Advisory Board (WE C-RAB).
For the Discover Together Biobank, CCHMC RPAC members contributed to the development of the biobank’s name, provided feedback on marketing and recruitment materials, offered input on participant consent processes, and supported numerous other initiatives.
The Vaccine Research Center engaged both CCHMC RPAC and WE C-RAB members in developing an e-screener, reviewing COVID-19 vaccine studies during the pandemic, planning community vaccine events in the West End neighborhood, providing feedback on Shigella and norovirus studies, and helping inform the design of the Winslow Research Pavilion itself.
The contributions of CCHMC RPAC and WE C-RAB members have played a significant role in ensuring that participant and community perspectives are reflected throughout the process.
Later this month, members of both groups, along with the University of Cincinnati Research Participant Advisory Council (UC RPAC), will tour the new Vaccine Research Center space. During the visit, they will have the opportunity to see how their recommendations were incorporated into the design of the facility, helping create an environment that is welcoming, comfortable, and participant-centered - particularly for inpatient research studies.
In May 2026, CCHMC RPAC and WE C-RAB members toured the new Discover Together Biobank facility and participated in a hands-on science activity, extracting DNA from wheat germ.
These tours are the culmination of the well-established relationship over the years, reflecting the long journey these groups have had with the institutions housed within. Now that the Discover Together Biobank and Vaccine Research Center are housed together in the Winslow Research Pavilion, advisory group members can see the tangible impact of their feedback, ideas, and advocacy. Their contributions are making a difference in research at Cincinnati Children’s.
The following timelines highlight these ongoing partnerships and showcase the many ways
patients, families, and community members have helped shape the future of research at Cincinnati Children’s.
Timeline of Discover Together Biobank and CCHMC RPAC:
2018:
“Discovery Warehouse” idea is first brought to CCHMC RPAC by Tracey Glauser, MD, associate director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Anna Bartels and Heide Aungst (previous Cincinnati Children's staff members).
CCHMC RPAC gives feedback on the name, if they would want to participate, their concerns, recruitment materials, engaging participants, and consent forms.
CCHMC RPAC suggests and votes on name ideas, agreeing on “Discover Together Biobank”.
2019:
CCHMC RPAC provides feedback on the new Discover Together Biobank’s website, flyers and materials.
First field trip to the Discover Together Biobank facility!
2020:
CCHMC RPAC reviews Discover Together Biobank marketing materials.
2021:
CCHMC RPAC discusses the two-step consent process for participating in the biobank.
CCHMC RPAC watches different examples of biobank consent videos and provides suggestions for a consent video for the Discover Together Biobank.
CCHMC RPAC brainstorms names for a Discover Together Biobank newsletter.
2023:
CCHMC RPAC reviews and gives input on the Discover Together Biobank consent video and consenting process. Their input was incorporated in the final video.
2024:
Discover Together returns to the CCHMC RPAC to discuss dynamic consent pathways, including a video, online consent form, and marketing ideas.
2026:
Ribbon cutting of the new Winslow Research Pavilion!
CCHMC RPAC and WE C-RAB tour the Winslow Research Pavilion to see the new Discover Together Biobank facility!
Timeline of Gamble Vaccine Center and CCHMC RPAC/WE - CRAB:
2015 – 2019:
Michelle Dickey, APRN, clinical research director of the Vaccine Research Center, joins the CCHMC RPAC.
CCHMC RPAC helps in creation of the e-screener for Gamble Vaccine Center studies.
2020 – 2021:
Bob Frenck, MD, director of the Vaccine Research Center, discusses COVID vaccine studies, messaging, and marketing with the WE C-RAB.
The WE C-RAB holds two vaccine events in the West End neighborhood.
2022:
Both WE C-RAB and CCHMC RPAC provide feedback on a Shigella vaccine study.
Both groups help create the Gamble participant portal.
Both groups tour the Gamble Academy facility!
2023:
Both groups tour the in-patient facility for the Shigella vaccine study and the norovirus vaccine study.
2024:
Both groups provide feedback on design ideas for the new Winslow Research Pavilion.
Both groups participate in a taste test for different catering options for in-patient studies, provide feedback on a vaccine study survey, and review the Gamble participant portal.
2026:
Ribbon cutting of the new Winslow Research Pavilion!
CCHMC RPAC and WE C-RAB tour the Winslow Research Pavilion to see the new Discover Together Biobank facility!
