Longevity, Equity, and Aging Research Network (L.E.A.R.N.) Consortium

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PROJECT SUMMARY—OVERALL COMPONENT The goal of the NIA’s RCMAR program is to mentor promising scientists from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented groups in the biomedical sciences for sustained and impactful behavioral and social science research careers focused on aging, health disparities of older adults, and AD-related dementias (ADRD). The Stanford Aging and Ethnogeriatrics (SAGE) Center (RCMAR) was founded in 2018 to advance research on health disparities of older adults, especially those from communities of color, using innovative methodologies and culturally respectful approaches. Guided by our multi-stakeholder advisory board, we successfully expanded our RCMAR into the multi-organizational Longevity, Equity, and Aging, Research Network (L.E.A.R.N) Consortium, which now includes Stanford University, the Minority Serving Institutions—Palo Alto University (PAU) and San Jose State University (SJSU)—the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS), and several community partners. Goals: (i) increase the diversity of the aging research workforce by recruiting, retaining, and mentoring new leaders in ethnogeriatrics disparities research and (ii) promote new advances and culturally respectful methodologies in biobehavioral and social sciences research on aging with minority older adults. By providing pilot funds, methodological and recruitment support, ongoing mentoring, and numerous leadership and professional development opportunities, we will advance the research careers of our early career RCMAR Scientists and create a diverse research workforce focused on promoting equity in healthcare and mitigating disparities faced by multicultural older populations. Specific Aims: 1) Further develop and enhance research infrastructure needed to conduct bio-psycho-socio-cultural research to mitigate health disparities and advance the health of diverse older adults; 2) Conduct innovative research using data science and other cutting-edge methodologies and encompassing multiple domains (e.g., bio- behavioral, physical, sociocultural, and healthcare system) and levels of influence (e.g., individual, interpersonal, community, and societal) to inform development of effective strategies to mitigate disparities; 3) Develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate culturally respectful methodologies to measure social, behavioral, and cultural factors impacting the health of minority older adults; and 4) Expand the L.E.A.R.N Consortium, broaden existing and forge new partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), and collaborate with them to recruit, mentor, retain, and support diverse investigators focused on ethnogeriatric health disparities research. “Ethnogeriatric health disparities research” is the backbone of our RCMAR and directly aligns with Goal F of the 2020-2025 NIA Strategic Plan. We also specifically seek (i) to foster the development of research and clinician scientists in aging, (ii) provide ethnogeriatrics research resources, (iii) support and conduct biobehavioral, sociocultural research on aging (Goal B), and (iv) attract and train more researchers from diverse scientific and cultural backgrounds (Strategic Goal G-4).