Leadership & Administrative Core (LAC)
Funded Grant
Overview
Affiliation
View All
Overview
description
Overall Component Project Summary/Abstract The overall goals of the Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center (OAIC), funded since 2004, are to address the critical need to improve mobility, balance and falls risk, both through improved understanding of their causes and through development of preventive and therapeutic interventions. With this renewal we also will extend our work into new and high potential areas and bring several innovations to our activities and Cores. Specific aims for the next 5 years are to: 1) Promote multidisciplinary research that will elucidate the causes, consequences and management of age- related changes in mobility and balance. 2) Further extend our work into two high potential areas: a) translational investigations to examine interactions between multiple systems at the level of molecules, signaling systems, cells and their organelles, and tissues, as they impact mobility and balance in living organisms, and b) impact on individual older adults of health system, community and long-term care interventions to enhance mobility and balance. 3) Train young investigators from multiple disciplines to become national leaders in age-related mobility and balance problems in a vibrant, collaborative environment and build a translational sciences workforce through collaborative basic and clinical sciences team mentoring. 4) Serve as a champion and invaluable resource for investigators, research programs, institutions, OAICs and the public in the area of mobility and balance in older adults. Our accomplishments and plans build on our fundamental values: 1) a cohesive theme that accommodates multiple approaches and opportunities to address critical gaps in knowledge, 2) a commitment to multidisciplinary research, 3) a stable organization that grows and evolves, and 4) rigorous preparation of future investigators and leaders. To accomplish these aims, our OAIC is built around 7 cores. In addition to the Leadership and Administrative Core (LAC) and a Research Education Component (REC), we have a Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) and 4 resource Cores: 1) a Clinical and Populations Outcomes Core (CPOC), 2) an Integrative Systems Core (ISC), 3) a Data Management, Analysis and Informatics Core (DMAIC) and, new for this cycle, a Biology of Mobility and Aging Core (BMAC). In the first year of the renewal, we will support 3 Pepper Scholars, 5 pilot projects, and 4 developmental projects that illustrate the scope and innovation of our work.
PESC Summary/Abstract The goal of the Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) of the Pittsburgh OAIC is to promote and fund innovative multidisciplinary pilot research in the topic areas of mobility, balance and aging and their interfaces. A new particular focus is to help spur collaboration and integration between basic and clinical approaches to the Pepper Center’s scientific emphasis. The Specific Aims of the PESC are to: 1. Promote innovative multidisciplinary research on mobility, balance and aging. 2. Act as a bridge to foster interactions between the basic geroscience, clinical and community-based research enterprises. 3. Encourage supplements to leverage ongoing basic, translational, clinical and community-based studies. 4. Promote innovative techniques and methods for research on mobility, balance and aging. 5. Partner with other University of Pittsburgh groups (e.g. Clinical and Translational Science Institute and Aging Institute) that also offer pilot study awards to increase overall funding for individual pilot projects. 6. Promote, evaluate, and select for funding Pilot projects ($40,000 per year), Small REC pilots (up to $10,000), and Developmental projects ($35,000-$70,000 per year). 7. Conduct post-award processes (e.g., monitor adherence to ethics, safety, privacy, tracking of subsequent productivity and other related matters) for Standard, Small REC pilot projects, and Developmental projects. In year one of the renewal, we propose to fund four standard Pilot research projects and one small REC Pilot demonstrating the Pittsburgh OAIC’s growth areas (fostering basis/translational/clinical interactions and multidisciplinary approaches to mobility, balance and aging research).
REC PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of the Research Education Component (REC) of the Pittsburgh Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) is to create a new generation of investigators with expertise in age-related mobility and balance research. These investigators will have expertise in basic, clinical, and translational approaches and will lead and participate in collaborative multidisciplinary projects. To accomplish this goal, the REC uses a wide range of learning strategies for trainees. The program integrates training in basic and clinical research, creates a structured but flexible and rich learning environment, and provides core competencies, self-assessment tools, research project support, and access to a talented source of senior investigators from multiple disciplines who are dedicated to mobility and balance research and mentoring. Our specific aims are to: 1) Promote careers in mobility, balance, and aging research among junior investigators at 3 levels: Novice investigators (mentees in the initial level of training), Pepper Scholars (junior faculty with some expertise who receive OAIC salary support), and Transition to Independence investigators (mentees with independent career development awards). 2) Provide structured career development through mentored multidisciplinary research experiences, retreats, and career development seminars, as well as formal didactic programs on basic and clinical research skills through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) training programs. 3) Promote translational research and cross-training between clinical and basic science investigators. 4) Coordinate access to a large group of experienced mentors. 5) Offer Scholars a two- semester grant writing course that enables them to emerge with a polished career development award proposal or “R” application that is suitable for submission. 6) Provide financial support for trainees through stipends, pilot funds, and additional resources. 7) Provide individualized advice, feedback, career guidance, and support to trainees and mentors. 8) Oversee the promotion, recruitment, selection, monitoring, and evaluation of trainees and the program. 9) Collaborate with other cores and units within and outside the institution for OAIC related themes. 10) Enrich Scholar training through participation in the OAIC Coordinating Center's Visiting Scholar Program. Innovations for this cycle include: (1) a mentoring team for each Scholar that now includes both basic and clinical researchers, designed to promote team science; (2) a “cross-training” curriculum for all Scholars in clinical, translational, and basic science; (3) expansion of our Leadership Skills Training curriculum which focuses on skills critical for emerging leaders; (4) improvement of OAIC mentoring skills through participation in the NIH/CTSI-funded mentor skills program; and (5) participation in the new OAIC Coordinating Center's Visiting Scholars Program to provide further training opportunities and support for Scholars' development.
The Leadership Administrative Core (LAC) is responsible for the organizational, communication and regulatory functions of the Pittsburgh Pepper OAIC. The LAC receives valuable input and direction from 5 advisory groups including 1) the External Advisory Board (EAB) (national experts), 2) the Institutional Advisory Board (multidisciplinary group of experts on aging from the University and the UPMC health system), 3) the Community Advisory Board (representatives from local health care agencies, IRB, media, and local leaders), 4) the REC Advisory and the PESC Advisory groups (both internal and external experts). These boards provide advice and insight to the Executive Committee composed of leaders and co-leaders of OAIC cores. Our specific aims are to: 1. Foster communication and multidisciplinary collaboration among OAIC investigators, cores and projects. 2. Promote awareness and involvement in our work by relevant investigators and research programs in and outside the University of Pittsburgh. 3. Represent the OAIC to the University through the Institutional and Community Advisory Boards. 4. Represent the OAIC to other OAICs and the larger academic, NIH, clinical and lay communities. 5. Through the EAB, maintain independent oversight of OAIC processes, resources and progress. 6. Establish new independent REC and PESC oversight committees as requested by NIA. 7. Provide research oversight and safety monitoring for all OAIC human studies and help establish a Data and Safety Monitoring Board as necessary. 8. Sponsor a Research Seminar series, an Annual Retreat, Workgroups, a publication/communication committee, formal grant reviews, and new partnership initiatives. 9. Increase basic and translational research partnerships. 10. Provide administrative support and manage financial records for the OAIC as a whole. 11. Collaborate outside the Institution on OAIC related themes. For this renewal, we implement several innovative programmatic changes. First, we add a new discrete Resource Core, the Biology of Mobility and Aging Core (BMAC), derived from new and existing Basic Science laboratories. Second, we add TEAM Science sessions to incorporate complementary basic and clinical presentations and foster cross talk and collaboration. Third, a new telemedicine workgroup will pursue novel opportunities for distance technology clinical research. Fourth, we extend our Visiting Professorships to National thought leaders to increase attention to basic and translational Biology of Mobility and Aging. Fifth, we will expand our dissemination efforts by 1) supporting a Dissemination Champion(community leader) and 2) implement innovative “Story Booth” podcasts of OAIC participants sharing their clinical research experience.
