The Institute for Health Equity Research Catalyst Center

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Community engagement is fundamental to minority health and health disparities (MH/HD) research, helping to ensure that scientific knowledge moves from inquiry and findings to tangible, sustainable impact. Building robust community partnerships, novel dissemination strategies, and advancing the science of engagement are critical activities for both aspiring and experienced MH/HD investigators. Few researchers, however, have the mentors and networks needed to form strong, egalitarian partnerships, rigorously apply and assess engagement strategies, and disseminate findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences. Catalyst will create a novel, sustainable, scalable hub for community engagement research training, education, and multi-directional capacity building accessible to researchers at all levels and across all disciplines. The Community Engagement and Dissemination Core (CEDC) will address the engagement needs and interests of basic and translational investigators with experience in MH/HD research and those new to this work. We will guide researchers who employ a broad range of methods and study designs to develop or expand community partnerships and engage multi-sector stakeholders to conduct MH/HD research in their areas of focus. In collaboration with the other Cores, we aim to: (1) Convene a Catalyst Community Board (CCB) by building on existing academic- community partnerships to support the development, implementation, and dissemination of MH/HD research. We will unify two engagement approaches our team has been refining for nearly a decade: an Accelerator Model in which distinct groups of community members and other stakeholders each focus on a specific community- prioritized topic or health problem (e.g., environmental or mental health), and a Network Model comprised of community leaders representing a population (e.g., justice-involved individuals) or a neighborhood (e.g., South Bronx) experiencing high rates of disparities. (2) Cultivate community-engaged research capacity of Mount Sinai investigators, community partners, and other relevant stakeholders. To support the Pilot Project Program, we will contribute to all programmatic, training, and capacity building activities of the IDC, including input into the pilot project solicitation, review of applications, study design and conduct, and development dissemination strategies. To support the broader investigator community, CEDC and CCB members will participate in the Consultation Service; relevant Health Equity Topics Seminars; sponsor an Annual Research Ideation Event to brainstorm research topics and engagement strategies; and build new community-academic partnerships. (3) Leverage novel participatory strategies to optimize dissemination of Catalyst-funded projects through our boards and multi-level stakeholder networks, including 100+ NYC-wide community navigators we trained in research literacy. CEDC will guide academic-community partners to co-prepare manuscripts and presentations, host Policy and Payer Summits, and rigorously evaluate all CEDC activities. We will craft and disseminate a Catalyst Center Blueprint to support adaptation of our strategies by others committed to advancing health equity.