Rules Of Engagement: “Strategies To Enhance Community Engagement In Cardiovascular Genetic Research Among The Gullah Geechee”

Legacy African American populations are highly diverse genetically and culturally.Yet they are underrepresented as study participants in genetic registries and clinical trials.A major barrier to participation in genetics research is creating effective community engagement strategies that create bidirectional relationships and increase health literacy.Community centered approaches to public health and genomic research help to increase health education and raise health standards in often disenfranchised communities.Moreover, the higher prevalence of outcomes like cardiovascular disease, which are common in the Stroke Belt, may mask structural racism components that are unveiled in community level research.Through field work assessments and meta-analysis, the objective of this research is to examine community engagement goals and strategies that are beneficial in our Gullah Geechee case study.The Gullah Geechee are a micro ethnic group rooted in Coastal South Carolina who are considered to be key progenitors of Legacy African Americans.