CONNECT Platform to Increase Diverse Engagement and Enrollment in Cardiovascular Clinical Research: Rationale, Design, and Lessons Learned in Early Implementation

BACKGROUND: Women and Black and Latino adults face a high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet remain under represented in CVD research. CONNECT (Developing a Learning Community to Increase Engagement and Enrollment in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials) is a participant- centered learning platform designed to (1) evaluate electronic health record- informed and community- engaged recruitment; (2) increase enrollment in CVD research; and (3) increase trust in and aware ness of CVD research among 3 priority populations: women and Black and Latino adults. This article describes the rationale, design, and early implementation lessons. METHODS: CONNECT uses community- engaged and digital approaches to recruit and engage women and Black and Latino adults, aiming to enroll 1000 participants. Participants receive 12 months of tailored heart health and research text messages and are connected to CVD research that aligns with their interests. The primary outcome is the proportion of individuals en rolled, by recruitment method and priority population. Other outcomes include proportion of participants who enroll in a CVD study and changes in awareness of and trust in research. CONNECT was codeveloped with a Community Research Council, a group of community consultants, and approved by local institutional review boards. RESULTS: Development and early implementation identified strategies for successful community partnerships, cross- institutional collaboration, efficient technology infrastructures, tailored education materials, and researcher engagement. CONCLUSIONS: CONNECT shows potential to address barriers to research participation, strengthen engagement and recruit ment science, and improve diverse research participation. Findings from CONNECT will inform best practices to engage women and Black and Latino adults in CVD research.