Salon – Researching with Under-Represented People

In this session we talk about Researching with Under-Represented People.

The importance of inclusivity in dementia research cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts the relevance and applicability of findings to diverse populations. In this workshop, in this salon session, we will critically examine the ethical dimensions and methodological challenges of engaging under-represented voices in our research efforts. By exploring how to effectively integrate these perspectives, we can enhance our understanding of dementia and its varied impacts across communities. This session aims to foster reflection, explore ways to overcome the challenges, and ensure research is truly inclusive.

Dr Ece Bayram is an Assistant Professor at the Movement Disorders Center, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado. Her current research is focused on sex, gender, ethnic and racial differences in neurodegenerative Parkinsonian diseases. Ece was recently was elected as the Communications Chair for the Lewy Body Dementias Professional Interest Area at ISTAART, and is also active in the Lewy Body Dementia Association as the last co-chair for the Outreach and Engagement Working Group.

Dr Karah Alexander is a Master of Public Health at Emory University. Karah is examining the role of health literacy in the caregiving experience of Black family caregivers of persons living with dementia and assessing validity and reliability of health literacy measurement tools among the same population. She is passionate about combatting health disparities and inequities, working on community participatory research, and building bridges of trust between research and the Black American community.