Health equity engineering: Optimizing hope for a new generation of healthcare.

Medical researchers are increasingly prioritizing the inclusion of underserved communities in clinical studies. However, mere inclusion is not enough. People from underserved communities frequently experience chronic stress that may lead to accelerated biological aging and early morbidity and mortality.

The Art of NOW: Mentoring to Address Hidden Curriculum in Undergraduate Neuroscience Education.

Hidden curriculum, which consists of the implicit norms and values embedded within institutions, impacts how students navigate their experiences in higher education. While the formal curriculum provides structured learning objectives and content, the hidden curriculum shapes students' socialization, sense of belonging, and access to opportunities within academic settings. For diverse students, hidden curriculum often reinforces existing power dynamics and inequities, creating additional barriers to their success.

"In our community, we normalize pain": discussions around menstruation and uterine fibroids with Black women and Latinas.

Background: Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous neoplasms that arise from the uterus affecting over 75% of women. However, there is a disparity with Black women having an increased prevalence of nearly 80%. Black women also experience increased symptom burden, including younger age at the time of diagnosis and increased number and volume of fibroids.

Relationships of Cognitive Measures with Cerebrospinal Fluid but Not Imaging Biomarkers of Alzheimer Disease Vary between Black and White Individuals.

Objective: Biomarkers of Alzheimer disease vary between groups of self-identified Black and White individuals in some studies. This study examined whether the relationships between biomarkers or between biomarkers and cognitive measures varied by racialized groups.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging measures were harmonized across four studies of memory and aging.

Social Determinants of Genetics Referral and Completion Rates Among Child Neurology Patients.

Objective: To investigate clinical, social, and systems-level determinants predictive of genetics clinic referral and completion of genetics clinic visits among child neurology patients.

Methods: Electronic health record data were extracted from patients 0-18 years old who were evaluated in child neurology clinics at a single tertiary care institution between July 2018 to January 2020. Variables aligned with the Health Equity Implementation Framework.

High prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis B and C in Minnesota Somalis contributes to rising hepatocellular carcinoma incidence.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are known risk factors for liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is substantial global variation in HBV and HCV prevalence resulting in variations in cirrhosis and HCC. We previously reported high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in Somali immigrants seen at an academic medical center in Minnesota.

Bridging the Technological Divide: Stigmas and Challenges With Technology in Digital Brain Health Studies of Older Adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased adoption of remote assessments in clinical research. However, longstanding stereotypes persist regarding older adults' technology familiarity and their willingness to participate in technology-enabled remote studies. We examined the validity of these stereotypes using a novel technology familiarity assessment ( = 342) and with a critical evaluation of participation factors from an intensive smartphone study of cognition in older adults ( = 445).

Racial differences in longitudinal Alzheimer's disease biomarkers among cognitively normal adults.

Introduction: Longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analytes, amyloid uptakes from positron emission tomography (PET), structural outcomes from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognition, have not been compared between Blacks and Whites.

Methods: A total of 179 Blacks and 1180 Whites who were cognitively normal at baseline and had longitudinal data from at least one biomarker modality were analyzed for the annual rates of change.

Results: CSF amyloid beta (Aβ)42/Aβ40 declined more slowly (P = .

Use of Live Community Events on Facebook to Share Health and Clinical Research Information With a Minnesota Statewide Community: Exploratory Study.

Background: Community engagement can make a substantial difference in health outcomes and strengthen the capacity to deal with disruptive public health events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media platforms such as Facebook are a promising avenue to reach the broader public and enhance access to clinical and translational science, and require further evaluation from the scientific community.

Objective: This study aims to describe the use of live community events to enhance communication about clinical and health research through a Facebook platform case study (Minnesota [MN] Research Link) with a Minnesota statewide community.

Comparison of Demographic and Clinical Features of Bipolar Disorder in Persons of African and European Ancestry.

Aim: This study quantified and compared demographic and clinical features of bipolar disorder (BD) in persons of African ancestry (AA) and European ancestry (EUR).

Methods: Participants enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Bipolar Biobank from 2009 to 2015. The structured clinical interview for DSM-IV was used to confirm the diagnosis of BD, and a questionnaire was developed to collect data on the clinical course of illness.

Establishing a Framework for Gathering Structural and Social Determinants of Health in Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers.

Structural and social determinants of health (SSDoH) are environmental conditions in which individuals are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes across the life course. Growing evidence suggests that SSDoH can help to explain heterogeneity in outcomes in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) research and clinical practice. The National Institute on Aging has prioritized collecting SSDoH data to elucidate disease mechanisms and aid discovery of disease-modifying treatments.

Patient Recommendations for Shared Decision-Making in Uterine Fibroid Treatment Decisions.

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors associated with significant morbidity among symptomatic patients. While medical and surgical treatments have expanded, hysterectomy remains common. We interviewed women diagnosed with uterine fibroids ( = 47) to explore their experiences and recommendations for shared decision-making.

SARS-CoV-2 screening testing in schools for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools primarily for typically developing children is rare. However, less is known about transmission in schools for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who are often unable to mask or maintain social distancing. The objectives of this study were to determine SARS-CoV-2 positivity and in-school transmission rates using weekly screening tests for school staff and students and describe the concurrent deployment of mitigation strategies in six schools for children with IDD.

SARS-CoV-2 Screening Testing in Schools for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

BACKGROUNDTransmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools primarily for typically developing children is rare. However, less is known about transmission in schools for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who are often unable to mask or maintain social distancing. The objectives of this study were to determine SARS-CoV-2 positivity and in-school transmission rates using weekly screening tests for school staff and students and describe the concurrent deployment of mitigation strategies in six schools for children with IDD.

Researchers' experiences working with community advisory boards: How community member feedback impacted the research.

Introduction: To assess researchers' experiences working with community advisory boards (CABs) and perceptions of how community member stakeholder feedback impacted the research.

Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with researchers (= 34) who had presented their research to a Mayo Clinic CAB (at MN, AZ, or FL) from 2014 to 2017, with an average interview duration of 10-15 min. Researchers were asked "In what ways did the feedback you received from the CAB influence your research?" A validated, structured, 7-item interview was used to assess domains of the potential influence that CABs had on the research: (1) pre-research (e.

Creating a pediatric advisory board for engaging youth in pediatric health research: A case study.

Youth are an understudied population requiring additional safeguards when participating in research. Their input is necessary to facilitate participation and interest in studies. To address this, Mayo Clinic established one of the first pediatric advisory boards (PAB) comprised of 18 diverse youth aged 11-17.

Motivating and Discouraging Factors for Bipolar Patient Participation in Genomic Research.

Aims: The goal of this project was to better understand the motivating and discouraging factors toward genetic research and biobank programs in patients with bipolar disorder, particularly across gender and racial identities.

Methods: A survey (n = 63) of adults diagnosed with bipolar disorder was conducted at the general psychiatric inpatient unit and outpatient clinic at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Participants were asked to rate on a Likert scale their attitudes toward medical research generally, mental health research specifically, and willingness to participate in a bipolar DNA biobank.

Perspective on the "African American participation in Alzheimer disease research: Effective strategies" workshop, 2018.

The Washington University School of Medicine Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center's "African American Participation in Alzheimer Disease Research: Effective Strategies" Workshop convened to address a major limitation of the ongoing scientific progress regarding Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD): participants in most ADRD research programs overwhelmingly have been limited to non-Hispanic white persons, thus precluding knowledge as to how ADRD may be represented in non-white individuals. Factors that may contribute to successful recruitment and retention of African Americans into ADRD research were discussed and organized into actionable next steps as described within this report.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Viral Hepatitis Among Recent African Immigrants in the United States: A Community Based Participatory Research Qualitative Study.

In the United States, hepatocellular carcinoma is the ninth leading cause of cancer mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma disproportionately affects individuals of African ancestry with the rates being higher amongst individuals of foreign-born African ancestry. This study explored knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward viral hepatitis transmission, screening, and vaccination among recent African immigrants in Minnesota and identify ways to improve early detection and screening methods.

Measuring quality and outcomes of research collaborations: An integrative review.

Introduction: Although the science of team science is no longer a new field, the measurement of team science and its standardization remain in relatively early stages of development. To describe the current state of team science assessment, we conducted an integrative review of measures of research collaboration quality and outcomes.

Methods: Collaboration measures were identified using both a literature review based on specific keywords and an environmental scan.

Addressing community health needs through community engagement research advisory boards.

Over 80% of CTSA programs have a community advisory board (CAB). Little is known about how research discussed with CABs aligns with community priorities (bidirectionality). This program evaluation assessed researcher presentations from 2014 to 2018 to the CABs linked to our CTSA at all three sites (Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida) for relevance to local community needs identified in 2013 and/or 2016.