BUILDING A NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF ACADEMIC CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON HEALTHY AGING

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of this symposium is to initiate a dialog that explores opportunities to develop a national alliance of academic centers for research on healthy aging. Our goals are to create opportunities to train the next generation of researchers to address a range of healthy aging research topics, support efforts to engage diverse communities in applied translational research, design and implement cross-disciplinary interventions, develop networks to ensure rapid and effective response to emergent funding priorities, and leverage skills and experience of alliance members to help standardize concepts, measures, and methodologies. This session will include presentations by Directors of four academic centers for research on healthy aging: University of Washington (UW) de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging; Texas AM University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) Center for Research on Health and Aging; and University of South Carolina (USC) Arnold School of Public Health Office of Aging. The Centers represent various geographical areas, disciplines, initiatives, and funding streams. Each of the presentations will include common components of the centers such as mission, scope of activities, and key accomplishments. Additionally, each center will focus on reporting out one type of activity: workforce capacity (UW), multilevel evaluations of evidence-based programming (TAMU), dissemination of evidence-based physical activity programs (UIC), and partner-engaged research and education for cognitive health (USC). The session will provide a model of collaboration among investigators for the promotion of aging research and training. The discussant will provide context and strategies for successful alliance-building.