January 2017 Issue/Volume 11, Number 01
A PUBLICATION OF THE UNIV. OF UTAH CENTER ON AGING
2017 RFP Call for Center on Aging Pilot Grants
We are pleased to officially announce the Call for 2017 Center on Aging Pilot Grants.
Submission deadline is Friday, March 17th by 11:59 PM MST.
Complete information and application instructions are posted on the Center on Aging
2017 Pilot Grant webpage. LINK Here
We especially invite applications that align with the research themes of: aging and
resiliency (the topic of this year's retreat described below), genetics of aging and
longevity, and vascular aging including heart failure.
The Center on Aging sponsors an annual pilot grant program to promote the development
of aging research at the University of Utah. The goal of this program is to encourage
new investigator development, attract established investigators to aging research
and stimulate interdisciplinary research collaborations ultimately leading to new
externally funded research.
Applications will be reviewed in two tracks: those related to Biological and Health Sciences and to Behavioral Science, Social
Science and Policy. The Center's Steering Committee is hoping to receive high quality applications representing
the full spectrum of the Center's disciplinary backgrounds.
Resilient Places for an Aging Society: Adaptive Capacity Promotion for Healthy Living
Center on Aging 11th Annual Research Retreat 2017
April 27 - April 28, 2017
We are pleased to welcome three speakers to our 2017 Annual Research Retreat:
Scott Hummell, MD (University of Michigan) - Dr. Hummell's interests are to clarify links between lifestyle
patterns, inflammation/oxidative stress, and cardiovascular damage
James Sallis, PhD (UC-San Diego) - Dr. Sallis is a Distinguished Professor of Public Health who is
perhaps the leading expert in how the environment impacts health through physical
activity
Susanne Iwarsson, PhD (Lund University) - Dr. Iwarsson is an Occupational Therapist who directs the Centre
for Ageing and Supportive Environments at the Univeristy of Lund and is a leader in
understanding the role the home environment and its accessibility plays in health
outcomes.
Utah Commission on Aging
The 2017 Utah Legislative session is in play. There are several issues the Commission is tracking and supporting to bolster services and improve public policy affecting older adults. First order of business is SB22 that will affirm the interim joint committee’s recommendation to reauthorize the Commission until 2027. We have also recommended a few adjustments to the statute that will facilitate more effective Commission management. Other issues include funding increases for the Division of Aging & Adult Services for the critical Alternatives and Ombudsman programs. The Commission is also adding its voice to support expansion for public awareness of the state Alzheimer’s program and seeking a streamlined reporting process for reporting incidents of older adults falling at home and the gateway to getting necessary repairs and funding. Another critical initiative is restoring funding to the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program sponsored by Rep. Ed Redd, MD (HB31). This program provides educational cost relief to providers choosing to specialize in geriatrics.
The Commission has launched new collaboratives with the Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, and putting the finishing touches with HealthInsight on the 2017 End of Life Summit in April.
Funding Announcements
NIA has released new FOAs:
PA-17-088 - Secondary Analyses of Existing Cohorts, Data Sets and Stored Biospecimens
to Address Clinical Aging Research Questions (R01)
Summary: FOA invites applications employing secondary analysis of existing data sets
or stored biospecimens, to address clinically related issues on aging changes influencing
health across the lifespan, and/or on diseases and disabilities in older persons.
Use of cohorts that are linked to electronic health record systems and/or Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative data are especially welcome.
This FOA will support activities addressing specific hypotheses in clinical aging
research and/or to inform the design and implementation of future epidemiologic or
human intervention studies, or current geriatric practice in maintenance of health,
management of disease, and prevention of disability. Existing data sets may also be
used to develop and test new statistical analytical approaches. Costs for archiving
of data to be made publicly available and those associated with data harmonization
or assay refinement/validation may be included in the budget, as long as these activities
are pertinent to the proposed secondary analyses.
PA-17-089 - Exploratory Analyses of Existing Cohorts, Data Sets, and Stored Biospecimens
to Address Clinical Aging Research Questions (R21)
Summary: FOA invites studies employing secondary analysis of existing cohorts, data
sets and biorepositories to explore clinically related issues on aging changes influencing
health across the lifespan, including diseases and disabilities in older persons.
Use of cohorts that are linked to electronic health record systems and/or Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative data are especially welcome.
This FOA will support exploratory analysis of innovative hypotheses in clinical aging
research and/or to inform design of future epidemiologic or human intervention studies.
Costs related to data harmonization, archival activities and/or assay refinement may
be included in the budget, as long as they are pertinent to the specific aims of the
proposed project.
The NIA and NCI reissued their Potential Effects of Metformin on Aging and Age-Related
Conditions: Small-Scale Clinical Studies and Secondary Analysis of Controlled Clinical
Studies (R01, PA-17-073) FOA:
Summary: Data from clinical studies of metformin in a variety of patient populations
suggest that it may have other effects, besides being an antihyperglycemic agent,
which warrant further attention in translational aging research. The objective of
this FOA is to support research projects (R01), including small-scale physiologic
studies in humans or secondary analyses of data and/or stored biospecimens from controlled
clinical intervention studies, to increase our understanding of the clinical translational
potential of metformin to delay deleterious aging changes or to extend healthy human
life span. This includes identification of specific populations particularly likely
to benefit from treatment, and/or obtaining information on metformin’s human physiologic
and cellular effects that would be useful in identifying novel molecular targets.
Member Updates/Center on Aging Membership Directory
As a mostly virtual Center, we depend on the accuracy and timeliness of our Web presence. Center members are urged to review and update their membership directory information. Please view your information on the Center’s Web site. Send any updates or requests for changes to Heather at heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu or aging.utah.edu.
For past issues, please visit our NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES PAGE.
About our Logo
The bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) - the earth’s oldest inhabitant with a
life span of almost 5,000 years - is found only in Utah and five other western states.
Its extraordinary longevity and ability to adapt and survive in extremely harsh environmental
conditions above 10,000 feet embodies the investigative spirit and mission of the
Utah Center on Aging.
Best,
Mark A. Supiano, MD
Executive Director - Center on Aging