# Research Innovations using Sensor Technology in Environmental Justice Communities (RISE Communities)

> **NIH NIH R25** · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · 2022 · $117,964

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Low-cost air sensors offer tremendous opportunities for researchers and community members to better
understand air pollution exposures at neighborhood, indoor, and personal levels. Though these devices are
often marketed as easy-to-use, users face multiple technical challenges including maintenance, calibration,
data management, and data visualization. These issues often lead community members and researchers to
form community-academic partnerships within a community-engaged research (CEnR) framework. However,
successful community-academic partnerships require time and training to set expectations, identify team
member roles, develop team processes and shared mental models, and design a project that balances the
needs of a community with the expectations of academic researchers. In recognition of both the opportunities
and challenges of using low-cost sensors in CEnR, we propose an innovative program to foster successful
community-academic partnerships and equip research teams with the technical skills and knowledge to
successfully utilize low-cost sensors in environmental justice (EJ) communities. Our program, entitled
Research Innovations using Sensor Technology in Environmental Justice Communities (RISE Communities),
will accomplish three specific aims using a combination of in-person training, experiential learning, and a social
learning community. We will recruit community-academic teams (5 per year) from throughout the US and
provide dedicated time and training to build trust, set expectations, promote sustainability, and engage in
evaluation (Aim 1). In addition, experts in the use of low-cost sensors and their application in EJ communities
will provide in-person courses, workshops, and hands-on training in their use. This training will equip teams
with the requisite foundational knowledge in research methods employing low-cost sensors including how to
select the appropriate sensor(s) for their research questions, deploy them in their own communities, and
translate the data to action (Aim 2). Throughout the program we will cultivate a community of practice to
facilitate continued interaction among participants and program faculty and extend the learning beyond the in-
person training (Aim 3). Collectively, these aims address the urgent need in environmental health research for
successful community-academic partnerships to address disparities in air quality experienced by residents of
EJ communities. In addition, the RISE Communities program will promote the use of sensor technology in EJ
communities to encourage data-driven action to improve public health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10532002
- **Project number:** 1R25ES034592-01
- **Recipient organization:** CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacqueline Knapke
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $117,964
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10532002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10532002, Research Innovations using Sensor Technology in Environmental Justice Communities (RISE Communities) (1R25ES034592-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10532002. Licensed CC0.

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