1 - (SYM 134) Harnessing the Power of Community Advisory Boards for HIV Prevention: Lessons Learned from a South Florida Based CAB

Community based participatory research (CBPR) has become increasingly essential to health equity research over the past 25 years. In the context of HIV prevention and treatment, the use of community advisory boards (CABs), or formalized collaborative bodies consisting of community and research experts, has been integral in engaging underserved groups experiencing HIV-related health inequities. Community engagement in research has become more common due at least in part to changes at the federal funding level (e.g., NIAID) mandating all grantees conducting HIV-related clinical research for certain funding announcements to formalize their community engagement as a requirement for funding. Although there is ample evidence indicating the values of CABs, there are few established frameworks or guidelines regarding developing and sustaining CABs, specifically for graduate students and early-stage investigators who may have limited resources. Therefore, this presentation will outline innovative step-by-step set of guidelines related to the three main stages of CAB formation - establishment, implementation, and sustainment – that was developed by academic researchers in collaboration with a standing CAB composed of Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) living in South Florida. Tension points that researchers and community partners may need to navigate during each of these three stages will also be discussed. First formed in 2021, the CAB composed of five LSMM living in South Florida meets monthly to assist an early-stage investigator with her research program focused on HIV prevention and health disparities research. In addition to offering more guidance on cultivating successful CAB partnerships for HIV prevention research, the presenter will briefly highlight three projects conducted by this research team in collaboration with the CAB to demonstrate the unique ways in which our CAB supported the design, analysis, and dissemination of these studies. Studies reviewed in this presentation reflect various aspects of HIV prevention and sexual health including exploring factors association with post-exposure prophylaxis, facilitators and barriers to uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine, and mpox messaging amongst locally- and nationally based HIV-related organizations. This presentation will help the field of behavioral medicine further concretize its commitment to addressing barriers to health equity and lead the charge in create a more just scientific process for all by promoting the importance of CABs in HIV prevention research.