345 Fostering academic-community research teams to conduct community-engaged research in environmental justice communities: The RISE Communities R25 program

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Residents of environmental justice (EJ) communities experience significantly higher rates of negative health outcomes associated with poor air quality. Low-cost air sensors may supplement regulatory monitoring to better measure air pollution at local scales, but widespread application of this technology remains limited due to many challenges. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: To address these obstacles, we designed a training program to equip community and academic research partners with the skills and knowledge to successfully apply low-cost sensors in community-engaged environmental health research. The R esearch Innovations using Sensor Technology in Environmental Justice Communities (RISE Communities) program was established through an NIEHS R25 award in 2022 and has three specific aims: 1) Foster community-academic partnerships through research education, training, and team development activities, 2) Provide technical training in the application of low-cost sensors for indoor, outdoor, and personal air monitoring in EJ communities, and 3) Establish a community of practice to address air quality in communities nationwide. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We hosted our first cohort in August 2023, training five community-academic research teams in team collaboration, community-engaged research, and technical skills for collecting and analyzing data from PurpleAir sensors. Each team received 12 sensors to take to their home EJ communities to begin their projects. Community of practice development continues through interactive webinars and development of a web-based repository of training videos and discussion board posts. Evaluation data show high participant learning and satisfaction, with mean confidence scores improving on 6/8 metrics. Evaluation data also suggest several areas for improvement such as more time spent in teams for planning and additional opportunities for interaction within the cohort and with program instructors for problem-solving. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Effective training for team-based community-engaged research requires careful planning for team development and study implementation. Longitudinal training and support for the technical aspects of utilizing air sensors is also critical to team success. The RISE Communities program is actively recruiting for future training cohorts.