504 Aim 0: Researchers’ perspectives on early engagement to inform research direction

Objectives/Goals: Outline researchers’ perspectives on an “Aim 0” approach of engaging with people connected to the research topic to leverage their perspective when developing research questions. Worked with researchers at varying levels of career stage to understand their thoughts and concerns of this work. Methods/Study Population: Used human-centered design (HCD) methods to conduct nine semi-structured interviews with researchers at varying levels of career stage (early to senior level researchers). Interviews lasted 30–60 minutes while participants answered questions using collage cards, journey maps, and card sorting HCD methods. Questions related to communication dynamics between investigators and their population, how communication could be more population-centered, a research project journey including decisions on who and when to engage populations, and barriers and facilitators of engaging populations earlier in the research process to incorporate their voice in the development of research questions. Results/Anticipated Results: An HCD analysis approach will be conducted to outline findings. Anticipated findings include outlined communication dynamics between researchers and their affected population. The approach of engaging with the population early in the research process to help determine research questions was thought of favorably; however, feasibility concerns, mostly around finding funding, were brought up often in the interviews. More anticipated findings include what career levels would be most beneficial for an “Aim 0” approach. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Engaging with the affected population earlier in the process will help streamline efforts of investigators to solve issues their populations are dealing with. This adds another step to the research process, and it helps to understand researcher’s perspectives of this added effort.