261 From registry to research: Building trust and partnerships to advance precision health in communities at risk for Alzheimer’s disease

Objectives/Goals: Increase enrollment of populations reluctant to participate in precision health and Alzheimer’s disease research by leveraging trusted partnerships, responsive engagement, and a registry-enabled referral pathway. Methods/Study Population: Using a four-way partnership (Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences Precision Health, research lab partners, Balls-Berry Lab, and community organizations), we implemented a community tailored engagements for adults aged ≥65 at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Activities included Alzheimer’s education sessions, a sleep-health dinner forum, and direct referrals to active studies. Participants were identified via the local research registry and community networks. Trusted messengers led discussions, facilitated warm hand-offs to coordinators, and supported structured follow-up to sustain engagement and retention. Results/Anticipated Results: In 2025, community events reached >170 participants; >95% identified as Black/African American, and >65% were aged ≥65 years. Across events, about a fourth completed research inquiry cards, with on-site warm hand-offs increasing direct enrollment in active studies. Engagements strengthened trust, improved research literacy, and established a replicable, scalable model. Anticipated 2026 outcomes include expansion to additional precision-health domains, enhanced longitudinal tracking of referrals and enrollments, and broader implementation with urban and suburban partners. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Culturally grounded, community engaged strategies coupled with registry-enabled referrals can measurably improve recruitment, retention, and trust in precision health research, addressing persistent disparities in Alzheimer’s disease studies and accelerating equitable translation.