Defining research priorities is essential to guiding science, research development, and improving health outcomes. Top health and research priorities from the community perspective were identified; a novel contribution to the literature. Since community members rarely have the opportunity to provide input in health research, it was important to gauge their areas of priority. Priorities included cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Perceived barriers to research, both physical and behavioral, were consistent with the literature [17, 21]. Participants with positive research experiences reported more positive views towards research than those who had limited knowledge of research, or those knowledgeable of research and its historical abuses . Participants further stressed the need to gain more knowledge on research in general, as well as mechanisms to provide information on researchers and studies. Compelling suggestions were to receive information through community meetings (implying researchers must be visible in the community), educating the community on the “nature” of research, and being responsive to community-preferred modes of research dissemination. Last, this study demonstrates that while providers play a major role in their patients’ health and research decision-making, they engage in ineffective communication on the topics of concern to the CLSs. Identifying mechanisms that promote patient-centered medical homes and research opportunities are necessary to improving individuals’ comfort in engaging in research and preventive health activities.