163 Building a Supportive Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) Infrastructure: Assessing and Addressing the Interests and Educational Needs of Researchers and Community Partners

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Identify ways surveys capture the needs of researchers and community partners (CPs) to build a supportive community-engaged research (CEnR) infrastructure Identify strategies to match existing CEnR researchers and CPs who are interested in future CEnR projects Address educational needs of CPs and researchers for sustainable partnerships METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The Penn State Community Health Equity & Engagement Research (CHEER) Initiative team developed and implemented surveys to capture the unique interests of Penn State researchers and community partners (CPs) in an effort to build a supportive community-engaged research (CEnR) infrastructure. CPs and researchers were identified from the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science CEnR Core, prior engagement in research studies, and through tracking systems of individuals interested in research. The researcher and CP surveys ascertained detailed information of existing CEnR projects and interests in future community-academic partnerships. These results guided six workshops including an Introduction to Community-Engaged Research, Community-Facing Grant Writing, and Research Ethics Training for CPs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 99 PSU researchers and 119 community partners (CPs) throughout PA communities completed the baseline surveys. From the data collected, the CHEER Initiative cataloged over 100 CEnR projects, researcher interests, resources/support needed to jumpstart future CEnR projects, types of CPs, PA regions represented by CPs and researchers, and training resources needed to prepare CPs to engage in research efforts. Heat maps illuminating researcher/CP engagement were generated from survey results. While CEnR research projects spanned all 67 PA counties, several studies were in concentrated areas, and thus allow for opportunities to target CEnR outreach in less engaged areas. Data analysis from follow-up surveys will continue to serve as a foundation to best support existing and future CEnR projects. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The CHEER Initiative’s purpose is to reduce health disparities and increase wellness throughout underrepresented PA communities by promoting community-engaged research (CEnR). Surveys used to capture both CEnR interests of Penn State researchers and community partners built a successful and sustainable infrastructure for meeting this goal.