Translational Nutrition and Aging Research Academic Career Leadership Award

描述（由申请人提供）：本次K07学术生涯领导奖的总体目标是在阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校（UAB）与阿拉巴马州内有兴趣合作开展营养和衰老研究计划的组织和个人合作，开发一个可持续的转化营养和衰老项目。具体目标是：1)提供领导，核心教师和资源，支持创新，综合，跨学科，临床，行为和政策相关的合作，专注于转化营养和衰老研究；2)为博士预科生、博士后、初级和过渡教师以及社区利益相关者（包括决策者和老年工作人员）提供与转化营养和老龄化研究相关的高质量教育体验；3)确定现有证据基础的差距，解决方法问题，并确定转化营养和老龄化研究的优先事项。候选人Julie L. Locher是一名医学社会学家和健康服务研究员，作为一名独立调查员，她致力于研究：1)老年人的饮食行为和营养问题，以及2)营养影响老年人以患者为中心的结果的各个方面。她的大部分工作侧重于社会和环境因素，包括影响这一人群饮食行为和营养相关健康结果的社区和卫生保健实践和政策。她

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of this K07 Academic Career Leadership Award is to develop a sustainable Program in Translational Nutrition and Aging based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and in partnership with organizations and individuals within the state of Alabama who have an interest in collaborating on nutrition and aging research initiatives. Specific Aims are to: 1) provide leadership, core faculty, and resources that support innovative, integrated, interdisciplinary, clinical, behavioral, and policy-related collaborations focused on translational nutrition and aging research; 2) provide high quality educational experiences related to translational nutrition and aging research for pre-doctoral trainees, post-doctoral fellows, junior and transitional faculty, and community stakeholders, including policy makers and the geriatric workforce; and 3) identify gaps in the current evidence base, address methodological issues, and set priorities for translational nutrition and aging research. The candidate, Julie L. Locher, is a Medical Sociologist and Health Services Researcher whose work as an independent investigator has been devoted to the study of: 1) eating behaviors and nutrition issues of older adults and 2) the various dimensions through which nutrition affects patient-centered outcomes in older adults. Most of her work focuses on social and environmental factors, including community and health care practices and policies that affect eating behaviors and nutrition-related health outcomes in this population. She is uniquely trained in mixed quantitative and qualitative applied research methods. Dr. Locher possesses the professional qualifications and personal qualities necessary for developing and leading a substantive and sustainable Program in Translational Nutrition and Aging Research that is both timely and cutting-edge. UAB is a world leader in: 1) geriatrics, gerontology, palliative and supportive care research, education, and clinical care; 2) nutrition and obesity research, education, and clinical care; and 3) patient-centered outcomes and comparative effectiveness research and training. The candidate and UAB, with the support of a stellar External Advisory Committee, are particularly well-poised to carry out the proposed aims of the program. Demographic and economic imperatives highlight the reality that nutritional matters are too costly to ignore in our rapidly aging society. This is especially true in consideration of:1) increasing efforts to improve transitions of care linking hospital and home health services with community-based services in order to reduce preventable healthcare utilization and 2) increasing initiatives to rebalance long-term care so that older adults can remain in the community versus having to enter an institution. Rising rates of overweight and obese Baby Boomers who enter into older adulthood with concomitant obesity-related comorbidities and disability present additional and complicating challenges to these trends wherein nutritional matters figure prominently. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The expected outcome of this award is to produce a community of scholars representing diverse backgrounds and interests who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct relevant and impactful research in the area of translational nutrition and aging research relevant to clinical care and population-based health initiatives. Accomplishments of the Program in Translational Nutrition and Aging Research ultimately have the potential to reduce burdens on older individuals and their caregivers and society as a whole.