September 13, 2023 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Researchers at the Big Data Health Science Center will use their latest grant – a $100K R25 supplement from the National Institutes of Health – to develop a new program for training community members to use data science in their work. The Community Scholar (R25 c-Scholar) Program will provide data science training and mentored, hands-on research experience to four individuals from various community or governmental organizations.

“Despite the rapidly increased use of big data analytics in health science research in recent years, the progress of translating these research findings to effective public health and clinical practices and improved health outcomes has been slow due to many challenges,” says Xiaoming Li, professor of health promotion, education, and behavior and co-principal investigator for the Center. “Such challenges include the limited participation of community members in big data health science research and the lack of effective communication between the data science researchers and communities.”

The R25 c-Scholar Program will recruit community members interested in learning how to use big data infectious disease research to improve health outcomes in their communities. Components of the program include curriculum-based training, mentorship from veteran investigators and hands-on research experience.

At the culmination of the one-year program, trainees will organize a community forum/town hall meeting to share research findings with local stakeholders. They will also participate in a round table discussion at the Center’s annual Big Data Health Science Conference, and complete a report on their experience (e.g., program feedback, lessons learned, future opportunities).

One of the most important features of the R25 c-Scholar program is its scalability. If successful with its inaugural cohort, this community scholar approach could be expanded throughout the state and beyond.

“These community scholars – or citizen scientists – as we think of them, will open a new line of data science training in the state,” Li says. “By increasing community engagement and participation in big data research, we can develop truly collaborative models between community scholars and big data science researchers – shortening the process of translating research findings into public health and clinical practices and accelerating the impact and implementation of this research to improve the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and other areas.”

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