Gerontological Society Of America

RESOURCE CENTERS FOR MINORITY AGING RESEARCH NATIONAL COORDINATING CENTER (RCMARS NCC) - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT THE NIA RCMAR PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN RECOGNITION OF THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY IN THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN HEALTH AND FUNCTION TRAJECTORIES AMONG DIFFERENT RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS. OUR GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH THE RCMARS NATIONAL COORDINATING CENTER (NCC) AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA), DRAWING UPON ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPERTISE. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE RCMARS NCC ARE: 1. IMPLEMENT AND EXPAND NEW INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE CENTERS, INCLUDING AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE, ROBUST COMMUNITY-WIDE ONLINE NETWORKING PLATFORM, TOOLS TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION, AND RESOURCES SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF NEW SCHOLARSHIP AND FOSTERING CULTURALLY AWARE AND RESPONSIVE MENTORSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. 2. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NIA STAFF AND THE RCMAR COMMUNITY OF PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS, SCIENTISTS, TRAINEES, STAFF, AND PARTNERS – ESTABLISH CONSENSUS ON ESSENTIAL COMMON EVALUATION METRICS AND IMPLEMENT A STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR COLLECTING DATA TO SUPPORT THE EVALUATION OF RCMAR CENTER ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, MENTORING, NETWORKING, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND DEIA. 3. DEVELOP NEW TOOLS AND LEVERAGE EXISTING EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS TO PROVIDE TRAINEES, EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS, AND MENTORS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WITH SKILLS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ADVANCE THEIR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DIVERSIFY THE RESEARCH WORKFORCE IN THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES TO ADDRESS MINORITY AGING, AD/ADRD, AND/OR HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OLDER ADULTS. 4. CATALYZE RESOURCE SHARING BETWEEN AND AMONG THE RCMAR CENTERS AND CULTIVATE SUSTAINABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS); HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES [HBCUS], TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES [TCUS], HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS [HSIS]) AND OTHER ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS SERVING PREDOMINATELY RACIALLY MINORITIZED STUDENTS AND GROUPS), ALL NIA RESEARCH CENTERS, THE AGING RESEARCH COMMUNITY, AND THE PUBLIC. 5. ENHANCE THE PROMINENCE OF THE RCMAR PROGRAM, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH ON AGING AND AD/ADRD THROUGHOUT AND BEYOND THE AGING FIELD. FOSTER REVERENCE FOR THE VALUE OF DEIA IN THE AGING RESEARCH ENTERPRISE BY BROADLY ELEVATING AND DISSEMINATING THE ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS OF THE CENTERS AND THEIR SCIENTISTS IN ACADEMIC AND PUBLIC VENUES.

GEROSCIENCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2 (GET2) NETWORK COLLABORATIVE - AGING IS THE MAIN RISK FACTOR FOR CONDITIONS THAT JOINTLY ACCOUNT FOR MOST MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. MANY GEROTHERAPEUTICS TARGETING BIOLOGICAL AGING ARE IN EARLY-STAGE CLINICAL TRIALS. THE DISCOVERY, VALIDATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION INTO CLINICAL CARE OF SUCH TRANSFORMATIONAL THERAPIES WILL REQUIRE THE CREATION OF A ROBUST TRAINING PIPELINE TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE GEROSCIENCE WORKFORCE. HAVING RECOGNIZED THIS BOTTLENECK TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF GEROSCIENCE EARLY ON, OUR TEAM BEGAN TO DEVELOP FOUNDATIONAL CURRICULAR MATERIALS IN GEROSCIENCE TARGETING MEDICAL STUDENTS, PHD STUDENTS, AND GERIATRIC FELLOWS, WHILE ALSO CREATING A CERTIFICATE IN GEROSCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM (CGRP) TO TRAIN NEXT GENERATION OF GEROSCIENCE RESEARCHERS AT THREE OF THE MPIS’ INSTITUTIONS (R25AG073119; KUCHEL CONTACT MPI; 9/2021-6/2024). DURING THIS EARLIER GEROSCIENCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (GET) NETWORK ENDEAVOR, WE IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES TO THE DISSEMINATION AND ADOPTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN GEROSCIENCE. PAR-23-315 NOW OFFERS A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BUILD UPON THESE ACHIEVEMENTS AND LESSONS LEARNED BY BROADENING THE SCOPE, IMPACT, RIGOR AND LONGER-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR EFFORTS IN GEROSCIENCE EDUCATION. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA; PRIME AWARDEE; D’ANTONIO CONTACT MPI) THROUGH THE CREATION OF THE GEROSCIENCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING 2 (GET2) NETWORK . GOALS OF THIS NEW GET2 AWARD WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING AIMS: ENHANCE ACCESS TO THE CGRP VIA A CENTRALIZED VIRTUAL-HYBRID OPTION BASED AT GSA. INCREASE THE GEROSCIENCE WORKFORCE IN TERMS OF INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED AND RESEARCH AND CLINICAL DISCIPLINES ENGAGED. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN PART THROUGH THE CREATION OF AN INNOVATIVE GET2 GEROSCIENCE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM. SYSTEMATICALLY EVALUATE THE QUALITY, ADOPTION AND IMPACT OF ALL OUR GEROSCIENCE CURRICULA WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS. WE ENVISION GET2 AS AN INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC-PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP WHICH WILL STRENGTHEN AND BROADEN THE IMPACT OF OUR EFFORTS IN GEROSCIENCE EDUCATION. AS IMPORTANTLY, WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE INVOLVEMENT OF GSA, TOGETHER WITH POTENTIAL FUTURE PR IVATE SECTOR PARTNERS (SEE LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE ACADEMY FOR HEALTH LIFESPAN RESEARCH) WILL HELP FACILITATE THE LONGER-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK BEYOND THE END DATE OF A POTENTIAL NIA AWARD.

GSA MENTORING AND CARREER DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT FOR 75 YEARS, THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) HAS CHANGED, IMPACTED, ADVANCED, AND EMPOWERED THE SCIENTIFIC AND SCHOLARLY STUDY OF AGING. IT HAS EFFECTIVELY PROMOTED HUMAN WELFARE BY INTEGRATING AND EXPANDING GERONTOLOGY SCIENCES IN ALL ITS AREAS. THE GSA ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) EMPHASIZES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND POLICY RELATED TO THE BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOSOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH, DISEASE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTING THE SCIENCES OF AGING AND HUMAN LIFESPAN. THE GSA ASM FEATURES AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM AND SOCIAL EVENTS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY EXCHANGE AND DISSEMINATION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AGING RESEARCH. ONE OF THE SOCIETY’S OVERARCHING AIMS IS TO CULTIVATE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING THROUGH ENGAGEMENT IN DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL OUTLETS. WE ARE PROPOSING A NIA RESEARCH CONFERENCE GRANT (R13) ENTITLED “GSA MENTORING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP” TO SUPPORT EARLY CAREER TRAINEES (PRE- AND POST- DOCTORAL) FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY (URM) BACKGROUNDS TO PARTICIPATE IN A PRE-CONFERENCE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP SERIES TO BE OFFERED AT THE GSA ASM FROM 2021-2025. THE WORKSHOP SERIES IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE TRAINING, EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND THE INTERACTION BETWEEN DIVERSE URM TRAINEES, MID-, AND SENIOR LEVEL INVESTIGATORS WHO HAVE PROMINENT LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE FIELD OF GERONTOLOGY. TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROPOSED OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF THIS RESEARCH CONFERENCE GRANT, WE WILL DEVELOP RECRUITMENT APPROACHES, TRAINING, MENTORING, EVALUATION, DISSEMINATION, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WORKSHOPS (AIM 1); IMPLEMENT THE GSA MCD TAWS ANNUALLY FOR FIVE YEARS AND PROVIDE TRAVEL AWARD SUPPORT FOR 100 TRAINEES (AIM 2); WE WILL REGULARLY EVALUATE (AND MODIFY AS NEEDED) THE WORKSHOPS’ CURRICULUM, FACULTY, TRAINEES AND ONGOING EDUCATIONAL AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES DELIVERED VIA SURVEYS, WEBINARS, FOCUS GROUPS, AND EMAILED QUESTIONNAIRES (AIM 3); WE WILL FACILITATE DISSEMINATION OF THE WORKSHOPS’ CURRICULUM, OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS AND EVALUATION RESULTS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBINARS, LECTURES, WHITE PAPER REPORTS, PEER REVIEW PUBLICATIONS, AND PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS (AIM 4). WE ARE REQUESTING SUPPORT FROM THE NIA TO ASSIST WITH THE RECRUITMENT, INCLUSION, AND TRAINING OF TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS FROM URM BACKGROUNDS TO RECEIVE TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP AWARDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GSA MCD TAW SERIES. THE TRAVEL AWARDS WILL HELP TRAINEES WITH HOTEL, TRANSPORTATION, REGISTRATION, AND FAMILY CARE (I.E. CHILDCARE) EXPENSE.

AGING THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND MOBILITY IN OLDER ADULTS

GSA MENTORING AND CARREER DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOP

BIOLOGY OF AGING SESSIONS AT ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCI

ACCELERATING TRANSLATION OF KNOWLEDGE TO COMMUNITY PRACTICES FOR OLDER ADULTS

ACCELERATING TRANSLATION OF KNOWLEDGE TO COMMUNITY PRACTICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.

BIOLOGY OF AGING SESSIONS AT MEETINGS OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2025 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BIOSCI) SECTION PROGRAM AT THE 2025 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) IN BOSTON, MA. OUR AIM FOR BIOSCI PROGRAMMING IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY AGING RESEARCH WITH A FOCUS ON HARNESSING THE HALLMARKS OF AGING. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WORK IN THE FIELD WILL EMERGE WHEN BASIC RESEARCHERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH-RELATED BIOLOGY OF AGING WITH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS. IN TURN, IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WHEN GERONTOLOGISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND BASIC MECHANISMS OF AGING AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE LATEST AND BEST RESEARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF YIELDING INTERVENTIONS TO AMELIORATE AGING AND AGE- RELATED DISEASE. WE IN THE BS SECTION TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPOSE OUR MEMBERS, THOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE GSA AT LARGE, TO WELL-COMMUNICATED, CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE THAT ULTIMATELY SERVES TO INFORM AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF ALL WHO ATTEND, VERY SERIOUSLY. THE ASM IS SITUATED UNIQUELY IN THE U.S. TO PROMOTE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORT OF THIS SCOPE, AND THE 2025 NOVEMBER MEETING IN BOSTON WILL PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE NUMBER AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY REPRESENTATION OF PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS. THE BS SECTION HAS DEMONSTRATED QUANTIFIABLE SUCCESS IN PRODUCING A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND PROVIDING A FORUM TO ENGENDER INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG SCIENTISTS. IN NOVEMBER 2025, WE PROPOSE TO INTENSIFY AND EXTEND OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH A SINGLE-TRACK MEETING PROGRAM FEATURING EMERGING CONCEPTS IN THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF AGING; TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES ACROSS SECTIONS; AND TO FEATURE TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS PROMINENTLY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SYMPOSIA.. DURING THE MAIN MEETING 14 (NON-COMPETING) ORAL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD. THESE SESSIONS WERE DEVISED BY A TEAM OF TEN INVESTIGATORS RECRUITED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND AS LEADERS IN AGING RESEARCH. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM WILL CHAIR A SESSION AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE MEETING ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION, AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF PI CURRAN. POSTER SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH ANY TALKS. ALONG WITH GSA LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE DEVISED STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT AND SUPPORT 8 EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATOR TRAVEL AWARDS.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2024 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BS) SECTION PROGRAM AT THE 2024 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) IN SEATTLE, WA. OUR AIM FOR BS PROGRAMMING IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY AGING RESEARCH WITH A FOCUS ON HARNESSING THE HALLMARKS OF AGING. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WORK IN THE FIELD WILL EMERGE WHEN BASIC RESEARCHERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH-RELATED BIOLOGY OF AGING WITH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS. IN TURN, IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WHEN GERONTOLOGISTS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES BETTER UNDERSTAND BASIC MECHANISMS OF AGING AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE LATEST AND BEST RESEARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF YIELDING INTERVENTIONS TO AMELIORATE AGING AND AGE-RELATED DISEASE. WE IN THE BS SECTION TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPOSE OUR MEMBERS, THOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE GSA AT LARGE, TO WELL-COMMUNICATED, CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE THAT ULTIMATELY SERVES TO INFORM AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF ALL WHO ATTEND, VERY SERIOUSLY. THE ASM IS SITUATED UNIQUELY IN THE U.S. TO PROMOTE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORT OF THIS SCOPE, AND THE 2024 NOVEMBER MEETING IN SEATTLE WILL PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS. THE BS SECTION HAS DEMONSTRATED QUANTIFIABLE SUCCESS IN PRODUCING A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND PROVIDING A FORUM TO ENGENDER INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG SCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE FIELDS. IN NOVEMBER 2024, WE PROPOSE TO INTENSIFY AND EXTEND OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH A SINGLE-TRACK MEETING PROGRAM FEATURING EMERGING CONCEPTS IN THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF AGING; TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES ACROSS SECTIONS; TO ENACT GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY IN THE ORAL PROGRAM; AND TO FEATURE TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS PROMINENTLY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SYMPOSIA. IN SEATTLE, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING, DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY SPONSORED PRE-MEETING, TWO HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED BY MAX GUO AND TIZIANA COGLIATI AND FEI WANG. DURING THE MAIN MEETING 14 (NON-COMPETING) ORAL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD. THESE SESSIONS WERE DEVISED BY A TEAM OF TEN INVESTIGATORS RECRUITED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND AS LEADERS IN AGING RESEARCH. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM WILL CHAIR A SESSION AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE MEETING ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION, AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF PI LEBRASSEUR. THERE WILL ALSO BE TWO POSTER SESSIONS SCHEDULED SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH ANY TALKS. ALONG WITH GSA LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE DEVISED STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT 8 MINORITY SCHOLAR TRAVEL AWARDS. OUR PROGRAM SHOWS 31% OF ALL SPEAKERS ARE EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS, 42% OF THE INVITED SPEAKERS ARE WOMEN, AND 29% ARE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2023 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BS) SECTION PROGRAM AT THE 2023 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) IN TAMPA, FL. OUR AIM FOR BS PROGRAMMING IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY AGING RESEARCH WITH A FOCUS ON BIOLOGY OF AGING RESEARCH: NEXT FRONTIERS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WORK IN THE FIELD WILL EMERGE WHEN BASIC RESEARCHERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH-RELATED BIOLOGY OF AGING WITH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS. IN TURN, IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WHEN GERONTOLOGISTS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES BETTER UNDERSTAND BASIC MECHANISMS OF AGING AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE LATEST AND BEST RESEARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF YIELDING INTERVENTIONS TO AMELIORATE AGING AND AGE-RELATED DISEASE. WE IN THE BS SECTION TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPOSE OUR MEMBERS, THOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE GSA AT LARGE, TO WELL-COMMUNICATED, CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE THAT ULTIMATELY SERVES TO INFORM AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF ALL WHO ATTEND, VERY SERIOUSLY. THE ASM IS SITUATED UNIQUELY IN THE U.S. TO PROMOTE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORT OF THIS SCOPE, AND THE 2023 NOVEMBER MEETING IN TAMPA WILL PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS. THE BS SECTION HAS DEMONSTRATED QUANTIFIABLE SUCCESS IN PRODUCING A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND PROVIDING A FORUM TO ENGENDER INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG SCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE FIELDS. IN NOVEMBER 2023, WE PROPOSE TO INTENSIFY AND EXTEND OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH A SINGLE-TRACK MEETING PROGRAM FEATURING EMERGING CONCEPTS IN THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF AGING; TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES ACROSS SECTIONS; TO ENACT GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY IN THE ORAL PROGRAM; AND TO FEATURE TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS PROMINENTLY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SYMPOSIA. IN TAMPA, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING, DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY SPONSORED PRE-MEETING, TWO HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED BY RONALD KOHANSKI AND JOHN WILLIAMS. DURING THE MAIN MEETING 15 (NON-COMPETING) ORAL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD. THESE SESSIONS WERE DEVISED BY A TEAM OF TEN INVESTIGATORS RECRUITED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND AS LEADERS IN AGING RESEARCH. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM WILL CHAIR A SESSION AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE MEETING ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION, AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF PI ROGINA. THERE WILL ALSO BE TWO POSTER SESSIONS SCHEDULED SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH ANY TALKS. ALONG WITH GSA LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE DEVISED STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT 8 MINORITY SCHOLAR TRAVEL AWARDS. OUR PROGRAM SHOWS 34% OF ALL SPEAKERS ARE EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS, MORE THAN HALF OF THE INVITED SPEAKERS ARE WOMEN, AND 20% ARE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2022 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BS) SECTION PROGRAM AT THE 2022 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. OUR AIM FOR BS PROGRAMMING IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY AGING RESEARCH WITH A FOCUS ON NEW VOICES AND NEW AVENUES OF INVESTIGATION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WORK IN THE FIELD WILL EMERGE WHEN BASIC RESEARCHERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH-RELATED BIOLOGY OF AGING WITH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS. IN TURN, IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WHEN GERONTOLOGISTS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES BETTER UNDERSTAND BASIC MECHANISMS OF AGING AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE LATEST AND BEST RESEARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF YIELDING INTERVENTIONS TO AMELIORATE AGING AND AGE-RELATED DISEASE. WE IN THE BS SECTION TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPOSE OUR MEMBERS, THOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE GSA AT LARGE, TO WELL-COMMUNICATED, CUTTING- EDGE SCIENCE THAT ULTIMATELY SERVES TO INFORM AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF ALL WHO ATTEND. THE ASM IS SITUATED UNIQUELY IN THE U.S. TO PROMOTE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORT OF THIS SCOPE, AND THE 2022 NOVEMBER MEETING IN INDIANAPOLIS WILL PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS. SINCE 2010, THE BS SECTION HAS DEMONSTRATED QUANTIFIABLE SUCCESS IN PRODUCING A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND PROVIDING A FORUM TO ENGENDER INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG SCIENTISTS FROM DISPARATE FIELDS. IN NOVEMBER 2022, WE PROPOSE TO INTENSIFY AND EXTEND OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH A SINGLE-TRACK MEETING PROGRAM FEATURING EMERGING CONCEPTS IN THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF AGING; TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES ACROSS SECTIONS; TO ENACT GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY IN THE ORAL PROGRAM; AND TO FEATURE TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS PROMINENTLY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SYMPOSIA. IN INDIANAPOLIS, WE WILL BEGIN WITH A NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING, DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY SPONSORED PRE-MEETING, HALF-DAY WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY RONALD KOHANSKI AND YIH-WOEI FRIDELL. DURING THE MAIN MEETING 15 (NON-COMPETING) ORAL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD. THESE SESSIONS WERE DEVISED BY A TEAM OF TEN EARLY-STAGE INVESTIGATORS RECRUITED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE AND POTENTIAL AS FUTURE LEADERS IN AGING RESEARCH. EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM WILL CHAIR A SESSION AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE MEETING ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION, AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF PI ANDERSON. THERE WILL ALSO BE TWO POSTER SESSIONS SCHEDULED SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH ANY TALKS. ALONG WITH GSA LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE DEVISED STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT UNDERREPRESENTED SCIENTISTS AND SUPPORT 8 MINORITY SCHOLAR AWARDS. OUR PROGRAM SHOWS 40% OF ALL SPEAKERS ARE EARLY STAGE INVESTIGATORS, MORE THAN HALF OF THE INVITED SPEAKERS ARE WOMEN, AND 20% ARE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2021 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING - PROJECT SUMMARY THIS PROPOSAL REQUESTS FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING FOR THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (BS) SECTION PROGRAM AT THE 2021 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (ASM) OF THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (GSA) IN PHOENIX, AZ. OUR AIM FOR BS PROGRAMMING IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HIGHEST-QUALITY GEROSCIENCE RESEARCH WITH TRANSLATIONAL POTENTIAL. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WORK IN THE FIELD WILL EMERGE WHEN BASIC BIOLOGICAL RESEARCHERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH-RELATED HUMAN AGING ISSUES WITH MEDICAL RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIOLOGISTS, AND PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS. IN TURN, IMPROVEMENTS IN CLINICAL CARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE LIKELY TO RESULT WHEN GERONTOLOGISTS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES BETTER UNDERSTAND BASIC MECHANISMS OF AGING AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE LATEST AND BEST RESEARCH WITH THE PROMISE OF YIELDING INTERVENTIONS TO AMELIORATE AGING AND AGE-RELATED DISEASE. WE IN THE BS SECTION TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPOSE OUR MEMBERS, THOSE OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE GSA AT LARGE, TO WELL-COMMUNICATED, CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE THAT ULTIMATELY SERVES TO INFORM AND IMPROVE THE WORK OF ALL WHO ATTEND. THE ASM IS SITUATED UNIQUELY IN THE U.S. TO PROMOTE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EFFORT OF THIS SCOPE, AND THE 2021 NOVEMBER MEETING IN PHENIX WILL PROVIDE AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPATING SCIENTISTS. SINCE 2010, THE BS SECTION HAS DEMONSTRATED QUANTIFIABLE SUCCESS IN PRODUCING A SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE QUALITY AND PROVIDING A FORUM TO ENGENDER INTERACTION AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG SCIENTISTS FROM DISPARATE FIELDS. IN NOVEMBER 2021, WE PROPOSE TO INTENSIFY AND EXTEND OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH A SINGLE-TRACK MEETING PROGRAM FEATURING EMERGING, TRANSLATIONAL CONCEPTS IN THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF AGING; TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION AND NETWORKING AMONG ATTENDEES ACROSS SECTIONS; TO ENACT GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY IN THE ORAL PROGRAM; AND TO FEATURE TALENTED EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS PROMINENTLY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SYMPOSIA. IN PHENIX, WE WILL BEGIN WITH A PRE-MEETING, HALF-DAY WORKSHOP ON: “ORGANELLE INTERACTIONS IN THE REGULATION OF AGING AND LONGEVITY”, ORGANIZED BY VIVIANA PEREZ MONTES AND YIH-WOEI FRIDELL (NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING). DURING THE MEETING, 15 (NON-COMPETING) ORAL SESSIONS WILL BE HELD. MANY OF THESE SESSIONS WERE SUGGESTED BY GSA MEMBERS FOLLOWING AN OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS, THUS OPENING UP THE TOPIC AND SPEAKER SELECTION PROCESS. IN ADDITION, ONE SPEAKER IN MANY OF THE SESSIONS WILL BE SELECTED BY COMMITTEE FROM SUBMITTED ABSTRACTS, AND PREFERENCE FOR THESE SLOTS WILL BE GIVEN TO EARLY CAREER FACULTY OR TRAINEE (POST-DOC, RESIDENT, GRADUATE STUDENT, OR UNDERGRADUATE) SPEAKERS. THERE WILL ALSO BE TWO POSTER SESSIONS SCHEDULED SO AS NOT TO COMPETE WITH ANY TALKS. WE WILL ENCOURAGE UNDERREPRESENTED SCIENTISTS TO APPLY FOR 8 MINORITY SCHOLAR AWARDS. OUR PROGRAM SHOWS 30% OF ALL SPEAKERS WILL BE EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS, NEARLY HALF OF THE INVITED SPEAKERS ARE WOMEN, AND 20% ARE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUPS.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM AT THE GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S 2019 ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING

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