Collaborative Research: Partnering with the community to improve the science and its impact
Year: 2021
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Michigan PBB Research Registry consists of ~7,000 people exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) following its accidental introduction into Michigan’s animal feed. After nearly forty years, the PBB Registry was transferred to Emory University, allowing the research team to engage this community. METHODS: Community engagement (CE) activities were initiated with goals of disseminating research findings to those affected, responding to educational needs, incorporating community input, and facilitating research participation. CE methods include community meetings, where research results are shared with the affected community and questions/concerns are addressed and documented. At the first community meeting, we asked for volunteers for the Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) to guide us in research and engagement efforts. The CAB joined forces with the Pine River Superfund Citizen Task Force, a community advisory group focused on the remediation of the Superfund sites left from the PBB manufacturer, and the Mid-Michigan District Health Department. RESULTS:These efforts have evolved into a community-research partnership, where the community identified research questions, helped develop the research approach, and is an integral part of research decision-making. This partnership has led to significant changes in outreach activities, research protocols, and research priorities: community health concerns were added to surveys, the age range for participation was expanded, and chemical workers/family who were removed from the Registry (1990s) due to multiple exposures were re-enrolled with exposome methods to evaluate their complex exposures. Community concerns regarding multi-generational effects and continued high-levels of PBB body burden led to a multi-generational epigenetics study, a clinical trial aimed at accelerating PBB elimination, and an oral history study documenting the lived experience of those affected using qualitative methods. This work will be translated in an online continuing medical education course for healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS:The community-research partnership has enhanced the science and its relevancy and potential benefit to the impacted community. KEYWORDS: Community-engaged research, science communication, exposome, environmental epidemiology, environmental justice
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3194272592