3519 Community Engagement And Health Disparities In Clinical And Translational Research Course: A Joint Academic Institution Approach

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Current translational research moves beyond bench to bedside and includes translating scientific evidence to clinical practice and into the community settings (T1-T5). This progression is dynamic, involving patient-physician, community, and academic organizational structures and translational strategies. However, basic and clinician scientists are often unprepared and/or ill equipped to successfully conduct community-engaged research which may aid in more efficient translation of their research findings. The recognized need for such training was the impetus for our course which was originally designed and implemented through the innovative and sustainable joint academic-community partnerships of Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University with the support of Georgia Institute of Technology. Since that time the course has evolved with the recently added partner, University of Georgia. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Initially developed and implemented in 2008, the course continues through the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, Community Engagement and Research Program (GaCTSA/CERP), a Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) (UL1TR002378). The course is an introduction to community-engaged research concepts/methods. This includes behavioral science; community engagement principles; clinical translational research partnerships; and strategies in planning, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating community-engaged research to address health disparities. The course is open to the four GaCTSA academic institutions’ faculty, MD, PhD, MS in Clinical Research, and the Graduate Certificate in Translational Science students. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Students received scholarly and hands-on training in community engaged research through faculty- and community member-led didactic lectures/interactions, team science activities, and a final assignment involving work with a community-based organization. From 2008-2017 over 230 students have matriculated through this course and many are now involved in community-engaged translational research. Most students in the class were MD/PhD students (33%), however 21% were junior faculty, attending physicians (21%), or fellows/residents/ postdocs (15%). Evaluations over the years indicate that most students were unware of Community-Based Participatory or community-engagement strategies for conducting translational research. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Effective application of community-engaged translational research requires essential skills training to facilitate the translational research paradigm. Translational researchers, at any stage, will benefit from understanding the entire translational research process and the importance of quickly bringing research advances to patients and the community.