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"Beyond the Science: Co-Creating Fundable Research with Communities for Lasting Impact"
February 26, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Elevation Convening Center & Hotel | Montgomery, AL
Hosted by Tuskegee University
This year's Bioethics Forum is free, but registration is required.
Register now to join us for the 11th Annual CCTS Bioethics Forum as we explore the evolving role of community-led research in shaping ethical, impactful, and fundable health initiatives. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Science: Co-Creating Fundable Research with Communities for Lasting Impact,” centers on how community voices, lived experiences, and equitable partnerships can transform the way we design, fund, and implement research.
Building on a decade of Bioethics Forum discussions, this year’s event shifts focus toward collaborative research design, community-based participatory research (CBPR), and strategies to ensure research not only meets academic standards but reflects community-defined priorities for health and wellness.
Through keynotes, interactive panels, and hands-on workshops, we’ll examine the tools, relationships, and structures needed to support ethical co-creation, grant success, and long-term impact. Whether you’re a faculty researcher, community leader, public health professional, or grant funder, this forum offers a unique opportunity to connect and build meaningful collaborations that can drive real change.
Forum Objectives
- Foster equitable partnerships between academic researchers and community stakeholders
- Share best practices for co-creating research proposals
- Build capacity in communities to attract federal and private funding
- Promote ethical and sustainable research collaborations
Who Should Attend
- Academic faculty and researchers
- Community advocates and nonprofit leaders
- Grant officers and funders
- Public health professionals
- Bioethicists and social scientists
Event Highlights
- Keynote presentations and panel discussions
- Interactive workshops and roundtables
- Community-academic pitch sessions
- Networking opportunities and resource sharing
- Launch of a toolkit for ethical co-creation of research proposals
Join us in Montgomery, Alabama as we move beyond the science—and toward a future where all communities have a seat at the research table and a stake in the outcomes.
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This year’s CCTS Bioethics Forum will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Montgomery, Alabama at the Elevation Convening Center & Hotel
Venue Address:
600 Montgomery Street
Montgomery, AL 36104 -
Check back soon for 2026 Bioethics Forum info.
More information about speakers and a detailed agenda will soon be available.
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Lori Bateman, PhD
Lead, CCTS Community & Stakeholder Engagement Module
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of General Internal Medicine and Population Science
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Robert Brown
Web Communications Manager
Center for Clinical and Translational Science
University of Alabama at Birmingham
David Chaplin, MD, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Department of Microbiology
Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Paulette Patterson Dilworth, PhD
Vice President for Access & Engagement
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lucenia Dunn, PhD
President/CEO, Tuskegee-Macon County Community Foundation, Inc.
Former Mayor, City of Tuskegee, Alabama
Clifford Kennon, EdS, MPA, CPP
Program Director
CCTS Engagement of Communities
Chiquita Lee
Project Coordinator
Tuskegee University
Lisa McCormick, DrPH
Professor and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice
Department of Environmental Health Science
School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lucio Miele, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Genetics
University of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Brian C. Moon, MM
Communications Director
Center for Clinical and Translational Science
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Meena Nabavi, MPH
Program Manager
Department of Environmental Health Science/Office of Public Health Practice
School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mariko Nakano, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Education
Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Stephen Sodeke, PhD, MA
Resident Bioethicist & Professor of Bioethics and Allied Health Sciences
Center for Biomedical Research & Modern Languages, Communication, and Philosophy
Tuskegee University
Angela Williams
Program Coordinator
UAB Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center -
2025 Bioethics Forum
"AI in Action: Navigating Ethics and Opportunities in Healthcare and Public Health Practices"
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The 10th Annual CCTS Bioethics Forum delved into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary healthcare and public health practices. Building on 2024's exploration of AI in translational healthcare research, this 2025’s discussion focused on the practical applications of AI technologies currently implemented in medicine and public health. We highlighted the positive impacts of AI systems used in healthcare and public health while addressing key ethical concerns, such as data privacy and security, accountability, explainability, and fair AI assurance.
2024 Bioethics Forum
"Ethical AI: Bridging Gaps in Healthcare and Research for Underserved Communities"
Friday, February 23, 2024
Bridging gaps in healthcare and research are critical in improving overall health outcomes across underserved communities. Using artificial intelligence is one tool to assist medical professionals, provide patient services, evaluate data to produce insights, and improve decision-making while improving healthcare with more accurate diagnoses and enabling more personalized treatments. Join us in–person in Montgomery, Alabama with our expert forum presenters as we discuss ways artificial intelligence benefits underserved communities.
2023 Bioethics Forum
"Earning Trust through Community-Engaged Research"
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Earning community trust is critical in building mutually healthy relationships that will improve overall health equity and outcomes across communities. Join the conversation with our expert forum panel as we discuss ways the community and researchers are coming together and building strong partnerships through dialogue, community engagement and shared resources.
Each year, the CCTS Bioethics Forum brings together researchers, bioethicists, students, community members, front-line research staff, and clinical staff to discuss ethical issues in research. We invite you to register and join the conversation!
Need more info?
For more information about the CCTS Bioethics Forum contact:
Stephen Sodeke, PhD
ssodeke@tuskegee.edu
Clifford Kennon, MPA
ckennon@uab.edu