Data Science and Analytics for Precision Rehabilitation (DAPR) Center - Community Engagement and Outreach Core

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH CORE: PROJECT SUMMARY The Community Engagement and Outreach Core (CEOC) of the Data Science and Analytics for Precision Rehabilitation (DAPR) Center will forge meaningful partnerships across rehabilitation communities and stakeholders, along with other Medical Rehabilitation Research Centers (MRRCs), institutes, and centers, for bidirectional communication regarding Center activities. DAPR addresses the challenge of efficient, collaborative, and reproducible analysis of large-scale rehabilitation datasets using AI/ML algorithms. By developing tools for data annotation, findability, tracking, reuse, and open-source analysis, DAPR enhances the integration of harmonized rehabilitation data with local data sources and supports researchers with knowledge and infrastructure for improved data use. The CEOC will disseminate DAPR developments and resources and foster a community of practice to advance data science, AI, and ML in rehabilitation research. The CEOC has 3 aims. Aim 1 is to advance community needs. The CEOC will develop strong community partnerships through a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of 8 members, including people with lived experiences (PWLE) and other stakeholders, to gather feedback on DAPR’s activities. The CAC will review and provide feedback on DAPR’s direction and projects twice yearly, consult as needed, and facilitate bidirectional communication to prioritize community perspectives and effectively disseminate research findings. Aim 2 is to implement online community engagement strategies to share research project updates and resource opportunities. The CEOC will utilize online platforms to build a virtual community, including Slack and social media (X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and a dedicated DAPR website will be used to disseminate research updates, promote events, and engage with DAPR communities. These efforts, integrated with the Administrative and Resource Cores, will raise awareness, share resources, and lower participation barriers for community members. Aim 3 is to promote collaboration and open science to enhance the rigor of rehabilitation research through conferences and events. DAPR will host a national conference on Advances in Data Science for Precision Rehabilitation and annual hackathons adjacent to major rehabilitation conferences to showcase DAPR tools, provide hands-on training, and foster productive collaborations among researchers and trainees. By meeting these specific aims, the CEOC will enhance the DAPR center’s success by building collaborations between researchers and the communities they serve while ensuring the needs of PWLE are prioritized in all activities. The CEOC will distribute tools, data, and services while promoting open science, thereby advancing the rehabilitation community’s capacity for data science in precision rehabilitation. This approach will result in more impactful, relevant, and efficient research addressing crucial health needs and improving the well-being of heterogenous rehabilitation populations.