For the past five years, UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Research Action Group for Equity (RAGE) Program, has advanced a broad portfolio of work focused on strengthening language access and promoting equitable participation in research. In collaboration with the UCSF Institutional Review Board (IRB) and community partners, these efforts have helped advance more inclusive, culturally responsive research practices that support meaningful engagement with diverse populations.
This Language Access Resources page builds on that work by bringing together practical tools, guidance, and institutional best practices to help research teams create more accessible participant experiences throughout the research lifecycle. Resources include information on translation and interpretation services, community-informed consent recommendations for community-informed consent form templates, guidance on the responsible use of AI-assisted translation tools, and additional materials to support clear, accurate, and respectful communication with participants and communities.
A key milestone in this work began in 2023, when the UCSF IRB and CTSI RAGE launched a pilot initiative to support the translation of template study-informed consent forms in response to evolving IRB guidance emphasizing the importance of translated participant materials for individuals who speak languages other than English. The initiative later expanded to support translation of a wider range of participant-facing research documents, reinforcing a broader commitment to reducing barriers to participation and improving access to research opportunities.
Collectively, these efforts highlight the critical role of language access in ethical, community-engaged research. By integrating language access planning early in study development, research teams can help strengthen participant understanding, foster trust, improve inclusivity, and enhance the overall quality, relevance, and impact of research.
Report: Community Input into the UCSF Informed Consent Form
In 2025, the CTSI Research Action Group for Equity (RAGE) partnered with the UCSF Institutional Review Board (IRB) to solicit community feedback on the Informed Consent Form (ICF) Template. The linked report summarizes the feedback gathered during 3 listening sessions and enumerates recommendations from our community partners. Many of the recommendations were adopted in the ICF released in May 2026.
The Language Bank Translation and Interpretation Rate Sheet
The Language Bank offers comprehensive language interpretation and translation services for UCSF research and clinical services. They are registered as a vendor in BearBuy and have been utilized by many research project teams and by CTSI. Click on the link to view their rate sheet. While funding is no longer available to directly support translation of research documents, CTSI's consulting service can assist researchers with language access for research.
Linguistica Rate Sheet
Linguistica Interpreting and Translation, LLC, is a translation firm based in California that offers a range of interpretation and translation services. They are a registered vendor in BearBuy, but are not endorsed by CTSI or UCSF. They turnaround times vary based on the complexity of the request, and the languages involved. Click on the link to view their rate sheet for translation and interpretation services.