280 Community engaged research mentoring: A tailored approach to growing early-stage investigators’ capacity and networks in conducting CER

Objectives/Goals: Mentoring is essential for the development of investigators, and while many mentorship programs exist, few focus exclusively on the challenges associated with community-engaged research (CER). This program focused on forging lasting mentoring relationships with CER experts and strengthening connections with community partners. Methods/Study Population: The 9-month program focused on: Exclusive focus on CER mentorship. The curriculum drew on best practices from CTSC partner institutions (Emory University, University of Wisconsin-Madison) and local expertise from the NIH-funded U54 Investigator Development Core. Prior work identified the lack of CER-specific mentorship as a barrier to success, prompting the creation of this dedicated program. Small cohorts with community mentors: Each bi-monthly cohort comprised four mentees and one community mentor, supported by CTSC staff. This structure created a safe space for sharing project challenges and offered grounded perspectives on community-partner needs and expectations. Mentor coaching mentors received targeted coaching, enhancing their capacity to guide mentees and boosting overall mentor satisfaction. Results/Anticipated Results: Evaluation surveys captured satisfaction, confidence, and likelihood of continued participation. Key findings include * High Satisfaction: Both mentors and mentees reported strong satisfaction with program elements. * Skill Development: Mentees cited support across project design, grant development, networking, and policy work. * Future Participation: 100 % of mentors and mentees indicated they would join again or recommend the program to colleagues. * Community Impact: Participants highlighted the program’s sense of community, passion, and peer support. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This CER mentoring program addresses a critical gap: traditional career mentors often focus on clinical or academic specialties, overlooking the unique challenges of building equitable community partnerships. By centering mentorship on CER and incorporating coach-driven mentor development, the program fosters bidirectional growth.