Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
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LAC ABSTRACT/SUMMARY The UConn OAIC Leadership and Administrative Core (LAC) provides the administrative infrastructure and scientific leadership necessary to achieve the overall aims of the UConn OAIC. The long-range goal of the LAC is to lead the way to continue supporting a highly productive research and education program at UConn spanning laboratory, clinical, community-based, and population-based science guided by the theme of Precision Gerontology (i.e., heterogeneity in aging and/or its improved targeting). The LAC oversees decision-making for the UConn OAIC, with a Steering Committee comprising a highly multidisciplinary group of senior rank investigators that includes the UConn OAIC MPIs, as well as the leaders of the three Resource Cores, the Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core, and the Research Education Component. Specific Aims of the LAC are: 1) To provide strong OAIC leadership to ensure successful administration and integration of all OAIC activities by continuing to coordinate the activities of all administrative entities within the UConn OAIC, including the Steering Committee, the External Advisory Board, and the Independent Review Panel; by conducting biweekly Steering Committee meetings to monitor progress of all Cores and Components, and lead discussions about how to continuously develop collaborative research and education activities across Cores and Components; and by ensuring timely submission of progress reports to the EAB and NIA; 2) To identify and assess opportunities for multidisciplinary team initiatives consistent with the UConn OAIC theme of Precision Gerontology and the OAIC mission by c o n t i n u i n g t o facilitate ongoing discussion about how to develop UConn’s research portfolio consistent with this theme during biweekly Steering Committee meetings; 3) To ensure t h a t s t u d i e s supported by UConn OAIC funds attain full compliance with all regulatory requirements, including full approval under UConn and federal human subjects and animal protection regulations prior to initiation, and monitor ongoing compliance with these regulations through study completion; and 4) To evaluate progress of OAIC Cores and Components and use evaluation results to continuously improve the UConn OAIC’s capacity to achieve its research and educational goals. By accomplishing these Aims, the LAC will provide the scientific leadership and administrative oversight necessary to continue promoting and growing multidisciplinary aging research at UConn related to the UConn OAIC theme of Precision Gerontology. Accumulating knowledge through research related to Precision Gerontology will help contribute to improving and maintaining independence in older adults.
PROJECT SUMMARY OVERALL This proposal aims to continue the work of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at UConn (UConn OAIC), which, since its initial funding in 2021, has already made significant contributions to the goal of enhancing function and independence in older adults through more precise, personalized, and effective approaches. Our focus on Precision Gerontology has emerged through the collective experiences and insights of our multidisciplinary team of accomplished investigators in the UConn Center on Aging – all united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of older adults through research, education, and clinical care. Our emphasis on Precision Gerontology has been guided by three principles: 1. A growing heterogeneity or variability over time among individuals involving all aspects of aging that therefore necessitates a multidisciplinary team-based approach to aging research; 2. Increased heterogeneity or variability with aging in older adults' responses to treatment, highlighting the need for better targeting; and 3. Recognition of a need to incorporate these considerations into the design and testing of novel geroscience-guided therapies. These objectives will be achieved by establishing a UConn OAIC through the coordinated activities of a Leadership and Administration Core (LAC), Recruitment and Community Engagement Core (RC1), Data Resource Core (RC2), Biomarker and Preclinical Research Core (RC3), Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC), and Research Education Component (REC). We will continue to address these goals through the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Enhance independence in older adults through Precision Gerontology by improving our understanding of the Heterogeneity of Aging as regards risks, mechanisms, and treatment effects. Aim 2: Leverage our expertise to develop and validate geroscience-informed interventions that are designed, whenever possible, to target heterogeneity and improve independence in older adults. Aim 3: Contribute to the OAIC mission and our theme by identifying and training the next generation of research leaders in aging. Aim 4: Support innovative pilot and exploratory studies to inform larger projects and clinical trials related to the UConn OAIC theme.
