Abstract PO-071: A curriculum to bridge the divide between basic science researchers and community members to address cancer disparities
Authors: Cawthra Tobi A, , Pinsoneault Laura , Olson Jessica , Thomas Deborah , Williams Carol , Stolley Melinda 
Published: January 2022

Medical mistrust and misunderstanding remain significant challenges that impede collaboration between community members and researchers. In African American, Hispanic, and Native American communities, medical mistrust limits participation in biomedical studies which constrains the development of new and relevant research questions minimizing our understanding of biomedical and social factors affecting certain groups. Mistrust, misunderstanding and a lack of connection between researchers and community members contribute to the persistence of disparities, including cancer. To bridge this divide, we partnered with a senior basic scientist and a community leader with significant adult education experience to co-lead and create a pilot “Research and Community Scholars” curriculum for community members and researchers to develop a shared understanding and vocabulary regarding research, address health issues and concerns, and build positive collaboration experiences. Through a year-long process, the team met regularly to intentionally explore the role of equity around potential topics and approaches, develop a shared lexicon, survey researchers and community members on concepts and curriculum design, foster a collaborative relationship and nourish equitable co-leadership. The co-leaders concluded that s participants in the curriculum need focused time, effort, and guidance to learn about and from each other, grow their capacity to collaborate, and build trust through collaboration. The pilot curriculum will invite early-career biomedical researchers (“Research Scholars”) from the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and Milwaukee community members affiliated with local community based organizations (“Community Scholars”). Scholars will meet together bi-weekly for 9-months. Course lectures and exercises, facilitated by community and academic leaders, will cover cancer, disparities, implicit bias, institutional racism, research violations and protections, and communication across audiences. A Community Scholar and a Research Scholar will be paired at the beginning of the course to develop a project. This approach mirrors the equitable and trusting partnership the co-leaders they developed while creating the curriculum. Dyad projects could include a presentation on how laboratory science is enhanced by a community-based orientation, or development of a podcast on ways community and researchers can bridge communication differences. The projects will be presented at the end of the course to other program scholars, leaders in the community and MCW. To sustain the relationships built during the course, scholars will be invited to become part of an alumni network. The design of this curriculum will result in new research mechanisms and ways to center community in the development of biomedical research. Positioning community as an equitable partner in scientific discovery addresses issues of mistrust and misunderstanding and contributes to the reduction of cancer disparities.

Citation Format: Tobi A, Cawthra, Laura Pinsoneault, Jessica Olson, Deborah Thomas, Carol Williams, Melinda Stolley. A curriculum to bridge the divide between basic science researchers and community members to address cancer disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-071.