Integrated Health Sciences Facility Core

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ABSTRACT (Integrated Health Sciences Facility Core, IHSFC) The primary mission of the Center for Community Health: Addressing Regional Maryland Environmental Determinants of Disease (CHARMED) is to understand how exposures to environmental factors cause adverse health outcomes and to translate our findings into action to protect and promote the health and well-being of vulnerable communities in the Maryland region. To accomplish this mission, the IHSFC will interact closely with other CHARMED Cores including the Administrative Core (AC), Community Engagement Core (CEC), and the Thematic Research Groups (TRGs), to assist Center members with the design and execution of community- engaged research (CEnR) and co-production of knowledge with community stakeholders. The IHSFC will provide a broad suite of services that will be applied to a CEnR translational framework. To this end, the IHSFC will advance CEnR through fostering and supporting investigator partnerships with community-based organizations, through: Aim 1) assisting them in planning environmental health research; Aim 2) provide them with the necessary resources (expertise, technical) for the execution of scientifically sound, community- responsive research projects; and Aim 3) provide guidance and assistance with effective dissemination and translation of CEnR outcomes and impact to a broad range of stakeholders. These aims will be tightly linked to consultation and other services provided by four interactive teams: 1) Population Health Sciences Team (PHST), 2) Environmental Data Science Team (EDT), 3) Mechanistic Science Team (MST), and 4) Translational Research Team (TST). In close coordination with the CEC and the Executive Committee (EC), the PHST will facilitate stakeholder/investigator team building and creation of inclusive, comprehensive research project plans, that are responsive to the community stakeholder’s needs. The EDT will provide statistical review of study designs and research plans and assist in biostatistical and bioinformatic analyses of results to ensure that all studies are rigorously designed and powered. The MST will provide investigative teams with access to an array of advanced analytical capabilities and infrastructure for the conduct of mechanistic studies needed for basic scientific discovery. The TRT will provide training/education and assistance to Center members and stakeholders in communication and translation of their findings to a broad range of stakeholders in an audience-appropriate manner. The impact of the Center’s research will ideally include but is certainly not limited to an increase in the capacity of CHARMED investigators to conduct translational CEnR research, and to identify the health risks associated with exposures to environmental hazards in the greater Maryland region. Longer term impacts include: 1) changes in community environmental exposures; 2) changes in public health policy; and ultimately in 3) improvements in community health outcomes.