UConn Center on Aging will be submitting an application this October to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to establish a P30 Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (RFA-AG-21-024) at the University of Connecticut. The mission of these NIA Centers of Excellence is to advance research and foster careers of early stage and other researchers seeking to improve function and independence of older adults through basic, clinical, and population studies. The thematic focus of the proposed UConn Pepper Center is Precision Gerontology, a scientific approach to understanding heterogeneity in geriatric disorders in order to create more personalized and effective approaches for improving health and function in older adults.
We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications from UConn investigators for two different components of the proposed UConn Pepper Center: (1) Pepper Scholars; and (2) Pilot and Exploratory Studies (PES).
Pepper Scholar applications are welcome from early stage investigators, and PES applications are welcome from investigators at any career stage. Both types of applications should explain in a single Specific Aims page the proposed research consistent with the UConn Pepper Center mission and thematic focus. If the Pepper Center grant is funded, support will be made available to a select number of Pepper Scholars and PES investigators to carry out their proposed line of research.
During the application preparation period, investigators are strongly advised to seek study-related guidance from Research Resource Cores in three aspects of aging research: (1) Recruitment and Community Engagement; (2) Geriatric Outcome Measures and Data Analysis; and (3) Biomarkers and Preclinical Research.
Pepper Scholar and PES applications are due on August 21, 2020. A webinar discussing these opportunities followed by a question-and-answer period will be held on July 15 from 10 to 11 a.m. (https://uchc.webex.com/uchc/onstage/g.php?MTID=e029fa7dbca10ea3b2fd866b3220c61c0). A recording of the webinar, further details on these competitions and information regarding potential core services will be available at https://health.uconn.edu/aging/funding-opportunities/.
For more information, contact: Robin Washington Addison at addison@uchc.edu