257 The Community Health Consultant Program: Supporting integration of lived experience across translational research processes

Objectives/Goals: Integrating lived experiences of people like patients and caregivers across translational research increases responsivity to local need and likelihood of meaningful results. The Community Health Consultant (CHC) Program is a dynamic, formalized source of lived experience advisors for the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS). Methods/Study Population: Established in 2023, the CHC Program comprises: 1) ongoing recruitment of individuals committed to sharing their lived experiences and perspectives with researchers; 2) creation of profiles which detail an individual’s neighborhood involvement, lived experiences with health and social conditions, and interest in types of advisor activities; 3) matchmaking individuals with relevant lived experiences to community studios, boards, and community grant review processes; 4) a formalized compensation structure which prioritizes efficiently compensating consultants at a rate that demonstrates the value that lived experiences brings to research processes; and 5) consistent feedback loops with the CHC Program as a whole as well as with individual consultants. Results/Anticipated Results: To date, 152 individuals with wide-ranging backgrounds have joined as lived experience advisors to ICTS research. A sample of their collective individualities: * Chris is a community health worker in East Saint Louis. He wanted to be a liaison to the areas he says researchers do not go. “Researchers need to listen to people like me,” he says, “the urban community feels like it’s lost its voice.” * Terry is a mayor in north St. Louis. He says if a researcher is focused on a particular group, they should get “real feedback on how we feel these things benefit us or not benefit us.” * Melvia is an active senior citizen. She says, “The connection to the community is a wealth of information.” In 12 months, activities have included community studios (46), grant review (32), advisory committee linkages (6), and faculty lunch meetings (3). Discussion/Significance of Impact: A dynamic, formalized source of lived experience advisors is critical for mobilizing engagement activities to support ICTS researchers. A community engagement program acts as a natural coordinating hub, building and maintaining individual relationships while matchmaking and providing warm handoffs for lived experience linkages.