Dr. Graves has been named the FY25 recipient of the prestigious Beverly and F.A. (Andy) Odom Endowment for Nursing Research Award. This distinguished award will support her Pepper Scholar research project, which focuses on advanced aging in individuals with spinal cord injuries. The Beverly and Andy Odom Endowment for Nursing Research provides essential funding to outstanding faculty in the School of Nursing, fostering innovative research that advances the field of nursing.

A new article by Dr. Masel, Dr. Goodwin, Isamar Ortiz, and Dr. Raji has been published in Patient Education and Counseling detailing the “AUDIO” Pilot Trial. This study tested how audio recordings of primary care visits could enhance self-management among older adults with chronic conditions.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on Dec 17, 2024. "Sample Size Justification for Pilot Studies," is presented by Xiaoying Yu, PhD, at 3 PM via zoom.

The Texas Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR), supported by the National Institute on Aging (Grant P30 AG059301), invites applications for 1-year pilot project funding. This initiative, led by the University of Texas Medical Branch and UT San Antonio, focuses on advancing research and researchers studying health and aging in under-represented populations, particularly Hispanic communities in the U.S. and Latin America.

We are pleased to invite you to the Pathways in Aging, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Symposium, taking place on the UTMB-Galveston Main Campus, on Wednesday, January 29. Learners of all levels are invited to learn about opportunities available through The University of Texas- Medical Branch & Weill Cornell Medicine Partnership.

Read the latest issue of the Sealy Center on Aging Community Connection Newsletter, including a highlight featuring Dr Downer, research news about blood sugar, information about participating in aging research, current community activities, and more.

The GSA 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting, the premier annual scientific meeting for cutting-edge scholarship, research, and networking relating to the fields of aging and gerontology, is November 13 -16, 2024 in Seattle, WA. Attendees from UTMB include several postdoctoral trainees, students, staff, and faculty. Visit our website for a list of presenters and topics.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on Nov 19, 2024. "Healthcare Preferences of Older Hispanic Residents in Texas," is presented by Stephen Pan, PhD, at 3 PM via zoom.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on October 23, 2024, "Analysis of Texas Medicare Claims Data to Evaluate for Disparities in Access to the Medicare Hospice Benefit for Cohorts of Patients with Serious Mental Illness," presented by Sean O'Mahony, MB BCH BAO, MS. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on September 24, 2024, "Inflammation, Where are we now?," presented by Alan Landay, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

Join us for the third annual WE Summit on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the HEC, 3rd floor. This event focuses on networking and connecting medical students with faculty researchers while celebrating our collective achievements.

Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Analysis of Texas Medicare Claims Data to Evaluate for Disparities in Access to the Medicare Hospice Benefit for Cohorts of Patients with Serious Mental Illness," presented by Sean O’Mahony, MD, BCH, BAO, on Weds, Oct 23, 2024 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Zoom. Lunch provided for those in person.

The UTMB Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research and the UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences funded by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR001439) present: Research Ethics Workshop "I Found it Online": Ethical Considerations for Research that Utilizes Social Media on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, HEC 3.200.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR Scholar presentation on Oct 22, 2024. "Mentorship Matters: Cultivating Relationships that Inspire and Transform," is presented by Celeste Finnerty, PhD, at 3 PM via zoom.

The 27th Annual Forum on Aging was a huge success with more than 100 posters submitted. Monetary awards were given for the best student and fellow posters, sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health. New this year, a top student was awarded with the inaugural James S. Goodwin Distinguished Professor Award. Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all participants.

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health (CIRWH), The Center for Health Promotion, Performance, and Rehabilitation Research (CHPPRR, pronounced ‘Chipper’), and The Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA) encourage UTMB investigators to submit pilot research proposals for translational research focused on Women’s Health. All application materials should be placed in a single PDF document and emailed to: Judi Linton, PT, MS, jllinton@utmb.edu .

Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Inflammation: Where are we now?," presented by Alan L. Landay, PhD, on Weds, Sept 25, 2024 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Zoom. Lunch provided for those in person.

SCOA welcomes Emmy as a new Clinical Coordinator working with Dr. Meredith Masel. Previously she worked at UTMB in 2018 as a scribe, then as a Research Coordinator with Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Hospital. She received her Associate's degree at Galveston College and a BS in Biology at UHCL. Welcome, Emmy!

SCOA welcomes Joey as a new T32 Postdoctoral Scholar working with Dr. Brian Downer. His research focuses on the health of older adults, with a specific emphasis on Hispanic aging. He also collaborates with Dr. Elizabeth Lyons on mobile health (m-Health) interventions aimed at increasing physical activity in aging populations, guided by behavioral change theory. Welcome, Joey!

Read the latest issue of the Sealy Center on Aging Community Connection Newsletter, including a highlight featuring Drs Sallam and Serag, research news, information about participating in aging research, current community events, and more.

“These findings suggest that bilingualism, especially the balanced use of two languages, provides a cognitive advantage in older age,” said Dr. Brian Downer, the lead author of the study and Associate Professor at the Department of Population Health & Health Disparities at UTMB.

Join us for a workshop,"Research Ethics - How to Submit to the IRB" presented by Elise Smith, PhD Assistant Professor in Bioethics & Health Humanities, on September 25th at noon in HEC 3.200.

Dr. Alan Landay, PhD, will present a webinar on September 25th at 10:00 AM, hosted by Dr. Shanti Singh-Anthony, MD, PhD, and the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). Register today for "Understanding Biologic Aging and Non-communicable Diseases in HIV."

When you talk to Dr. Alan Landay about his career, a palpable, positive energy fills the room as he smiles and takes you through his decades-long journey that has now brought him to the University of Texas Medical Branch. Read more about Dr. Landay's background and his idea that the answers to global problems can more readily be discovered when scientists and researchers from various disciplines, specialties and countries collaborate to study and solve the issues.

Dr. Emily Lantz, Assistant Professor in the Nutrition Sciences and Health Behavior in the School of Health Professions at UTMB, has been accepted to the Butler-Williams Scholars Program.

Dr. Raji was recognized for Excellence in Clinical Teaching in July. Then he received the 2024 Faculty Excellence in Mentoring award. He was also recognized by Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy, on behalf of American College of Clinical Pharmacy, for a top-10 most-cited paper in 2024.

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Alexis King to our team as a Program Manager. Lexi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in talent management, financial planning, and organizational development.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR Scholar presentation on June 25, 2024. "Characterizing the Neurocognitive Effects of Bilingualism in Mexican American Adults," is presented by Stephanie Grasso, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, at 3 PM via zoom.

In honor of their 100-year anniversary, Delta Omega will be hosting monthly webinars. This webinar will outline two of the most well-known, longitudinal cohort studies on the health and well-being of aging Hispanic adults – the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE) and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS).

The Data Management and Analysis Core for Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas is having a workshop on May 22, 2024 at the Galveston Island Convention Center. Register today! In addition, UTMB DMAC encourages all investigators in Texas academic and research institutions to submit pilot grant proposals on comparative effectiveness research on cancer in Texas. Proposals from screening, diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment surveillance, or survivorship are all welcome. Register for information sessions to be held June 3 & 7, 2024.

We are pleased to announce that Norma A. Pérez Raifaisen, MD, DrPH, CPC, will serve as Director of the World Health Organization / Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) Collaborating Center on Aging and Health, effective May 1. Dr. Pérez Raifaisen is Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, John Sealy School of Medicine and PI, Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research.

We are pleased to announce that Alan Landay, PhD, will serve as Director ad interim of the Sealy Center on Aging, effective May 1. Dr. Landay is Vice President of Team Science at UTMB and Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR Scholar presentation on April 23, 2024. "Data available from the Data Management and Analysis Core for Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas," is presented by Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics & Data Science at 3 PM via zoom.

The UTMB DMAC, funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, encourages all investigators in Texas academic and research institutions to submit pilot grant proposals on comparative effectiveness research on cancer in Texas. Proposals from screening, diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment surveillance, or survivorship are all welcome. Register for information sessions to be held June 3 & 7, 2024.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on March 27, 2024, "Injury Prevention in Wheelchair Users- Measuring Movement and Mobility during Daily Life," presented by Missy Morrow, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

The use of telehealth has become increasingly popular and convenient for many patients to interact with healthcare providers since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focuses on a pharmacist-led program that incorporates the use of electronic devices to aid in medication therapy management for men and women aged 65 or older.

Whether you are 8 or 80, there is fun to be had and friends to be made at camp! In March, we had the best time hosting over 100 seniors to our Abundant Living Conference, co-hosted with Camp Allen.

Dr. Monique Pappadis and colleagues have published a new paper, The Relationship of Health Literacy to Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study. The study looked at how well people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) understood health information and how it affected their health.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on February 28, 2024, "Multi-parametric Thrombus Profiling Microfluidics Uncovers Mechanobiology of Hypertension and Aging-related Thrombosis," presented by Yunfeng Chen, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR Scholar presentation on March 26, 2024. "The Demography of Latino Aging," is presented by Rogelio Saenz, PhD Professor, Sociology and Demography University of Texas San Antonio College for Health, Community and Policy at 3PM via zoom.

The UTMB Sealy Center on Aging seeks to fill one postdoctoral fellowship position on the aging and health of diverse older adult populations. Visit the T32 Health of Older Minorities page at the SCOA website to learn more.

Annual Wellness Visits for People with Dementia: A National Study at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Caregivers, patients, or providers are needed to participate in a 30-minute interview to help us improve the healthcare services provided to individuals with dementia.

Join us for the next Texas RCMAR Scholar presentation on February 27, 2024. "Capturing Lived Experience: Interview Techniques, Skills, and Other Considerations," is presented by Kelly Grace, PhD at 3PM in a hybrid format, in person in Rebecca Sealy, 6.100 and via zoom.

A poster titled, "Wheelchair Sitting Patterns in a Long-Term Care Memory Care Unit," has been selected for the Best Overall Poster Award at the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel’s 2024 Annual Conference.

UTMB investigators are invited to submit applications to the RL5 Scholars Program. Up to 50% Salary support is provided. Scholars participating in this program will collaborate with a primary mentor and research team to devise and execute individual development plans, encompassing research projects, training activities, funding endeavors, and publication efforts.

UTMB investigators are invited to submit pilot research proposals focusing on translational aging research, particularly on physical function and recovery from illness in older adults. Proposals from various domains including basic science, clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes, population health, and any other area of translational research (T1-T4) are encouraged.

Dr. Rebeca Wong & colleagues will speak at Boston University's Public Health Conversation event about Centering Aging Populations in the Public Health Agenda on February 6, 2024 at noon, Central. This program will focus on the health of older adults. What set of unique health challenges do aging populations face? How can we better promote the health of aging populations nationally and globally?

A new study on pain medications finds that Gabapentinoids, often used for chronic pain instead of opioids, show potential side effects. Compared to opioids and a control group, users had higher rates of immune disorders, mental health issues, skin problems, and strokes within three months. Some unexpected signals, like certain cancers, need further investigation. Learn more about this new study by researchers in aging at UTMB that was recently published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.

UTMB Pepper Center Scholar Dr. Murton, in partnership with Dr. Juan Pablo Palavicini from the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at the University of Texas Health San Antonio, has secured a $100,000 grant from the Older American Independence Center. The grant will fuel a collaborative effort to launch a multi-center pilot study investigating the potential biological factors contributing to muscle loss associated with aging and obesity.

Pain, whether treated or not, in elderly Mexican Americans is linked to memory issues. Depression plays a role, emphasizing the need for screening. More research is needed to understand the connection and evaluate treatments. Learn more about this new study by researchers in aging at UTMB that was recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on January 24, 2023, "Multimodal Effects of Neo-adjuvant and Adjuvant Exercise on Tumor Pathology and Survivorship," presented by Darpan Patel, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on September 27, 2023 "Using Electronic Health Resources for Health Assessment to Improve Older Adult Wellbeing," presented by Erin Hommel, MD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

The Texas Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) announces a call for applications for Pilot Projects supported by Grant Number P30 AG059301 from the National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health. The application process involves a Letter of Intent due by February 12, 2024, and selected investigators will submit full proposals by March 4, 2024, with decisions expected by March 26, 2024. Successful applicants will contribute to advancing research on minority aging, aligning with the Texas RCMAR mission.

Dr. Wong will present in the Center for Health-system Improvement Works-in-Progress Seminar Series on Jan 9th about Longitudinal Representative Population Studies: the potential for discovery post-COVID. Please visit https://www.utmb.edu/chi to be added to the email and event list.

The Lefeber Hughes Winter Series on Aging, now in its 29th year, features nationally recognized gerontology research educators, basic scientists, clinicians, and social scientists. This series of 5 weekly lectures is offered in a hybrid format, with presentations that are open to the community online and in-person.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is launching a Seed Grant program to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects in public health. The initiative aims to support cross-center collaborations by providing funding of up to $25,000 for data acquisition or secondary data analysis and up to $40,000 for other seed projects. The grants are directed toward initiatives addressing various public health issues, including disease prevention, aging, health disparities, and mental health.

A new study by an international consortium of investigators with researchers in aging at UTMB has been highlighted in a special issue of Health Affairs about global lessons from COVID-19. Access the article and a video by Dr. Wong, "COVID-19 And Mental Health Outcomes Of Older Adults: Evidence From Mexico".

Read the latest issue of the Sealy Center on Aging Community Connection Newsletter, including a research support highlight featuring Roxy Hirst and Shawn Goodlett who are celebrating 25 years of service, other research news, information about volunteering in the community, participating in aging research, current clinical trials, and more.

A new study by researchers including Michael Robertson, Brian Downer, Paul Schulz, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Elizabeth Lyons , and Sadaf Arefi Milani looks at social and leisure activities in older Mexican adults. The findings suggest that popular social and leisure activities may play a protective role in cognitive aging, potentially influencing the development of enjoyable and effective health interventions.

An event was held to honor participants in the recently concluded Dementia Care Study, Supporting Individuals and Caregivers (D-CARE). Dr. Volpi, study support staff, providers, and patient volunteers gathered at Open Gates in Galveston for a luncheon in honor of participants.

“Adding an attitude of play is about trying to make things more interesting and meaningful," UTMB’s Dr. Elizabeth Lyons told AARP for an article on embracing a playful attitude toward exercise. "It can involve discovery, exploration, and spontaneity. There’s something unique about play that brings autonomy—you want to do it for its own sake.”

UTMB’s Jennifer Young and Jessica den Herder were highlighted for their work to help home-bound patients prepare for hurricanes. “We realized if [our home-bound patients] were having a difficult time going to the clinic, they’re going to have a difficult time evacuating [during an emergency],” Ms den Herder told The Clinical Advisor.

Register for a talk by Alice Williams on Nov 9th, "Understanding Alzheimer's & Dementia at Moody United Methodist Church" presented by the Houston & Southeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

A new research study on Dementia help, led by Karen Schlag, PhD, is seeking family caregivers and healthcare providers to help us learn more about the difficulties families experience when seeking professional help for dementia.

Congratulations to all the poster winners at this year's Forum on Aging at UTMB and thanks to all participants.

A new research study on the latest treatments for Urinary Incontinence, led by Steve Fisher, PhD, and colleagues is seeking older adult women in the community to volunteer. We're looking for women aged 60 or older who have UI and could be at some risk of falling.

Join us on October 18th at 4PM in Levin Hall for the 26th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. Download the program at the Forum web page. This event allows faculty, fellows, and students to showcase their research and inform the UTMB community about the aging research being conducted. Awards will be announced at 5PM.

Monique R. Pappadis, PhD, MEd, FACRM, has been appointed as Vice Chair for the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities. In 2022, she was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and moved her primary appointment to the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities. She is also a faculty member within the Center for Violence Prevention. She is a Scholar and Leader in Training for the Pilot / Exploratory Studies Core at the UTMB Pepper Center.

Join us on October 18th for the 26th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. This event allows faculty, fellows, and students to showcase their research and inform the UTMB community about the aging research being conducted here. It is also a great networking event and opportunity to learn about the research resources available from the Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services. Monetary awards for best student and fellow posters will be given, sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, and Sigma Xi.

The Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR Jr. Faculty Research Award is funded for the benefit of early career faculty (rank of Assistant Professor) at UTMB who are conducting research related to rehabilitation, disability, and recovery. Applications are due no later than October 20, 2023.

The WHO/PAHO Center has collaborated with a team of Mexican and U.S. partners, to produce a special volume of the Journal SALUD PUBLICA DE MEXICO. The special volume celebrates 20 years of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). The Special Volume includes Editorials from leaders of key co-funders of the MHAS, the NIA/NIH Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Mexican Statistical Bureau (INEGI). The volume includes eleven peer-reviewed papers that use MHAS data.

Part of the story about the Hispanic Paradox,” said Kyriakos S. Markides, a professor of aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, “is that the non-Hispanic white population is not doing as well as it should.” Markides coined the term “Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox” in a 1986 paper showing Hispanics in the American Southwest lived as long, or longer, than white people.

A new study used computer analysis to understand the health problems of older stroke patients with many illnesses. Based on what they found, they created stories to make a better self-management program for these patients. Authors included Timothy Reistetter, Kimberly Hreha, Julianna Dean, Monique Pappadis, Rachel Deer, Chih-Ying Li, Ickpyo Hong, Annalisa Na, Sara Nowakowski, Hashem Shaltoni, and Suresh Bhavnani.

A study by an interprofessional team of researchers including Huey-Ming Tzeng, Brian Downer, Chih-Ying Li, Mukaila A Raji, Allen Haas, and Yong-Fang Kuo investigates the association between cognitive impairment and repeat fractures.

A new study by Yong-Fang Kuo, Efstathia Polychronopoulou, and Mukaila Raji investigates the safety of gabapentinoid medications used for pain management compared to opioids in Medicare patients. It reveals unexpected side effects like potential links to stroke and cancer in gabapentinoid users, suggesting the need for further research and careful consideration in prescribing these drugs

Read the latest issue of the Sealy Center on Aging Community Connection Newsletter, including a researcher highlight featuring Dr. Wong, an infographic about COVID in Mexico, information about volunteering in the community, participating in aging research, current clinical trials, and more.

Join us on October 18th for the 26th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. This event allows faculty, fellows, and students to showcase their research and inform the UTMB community about the aging research being conducted here. It is also a great networking event and opportunity to learn about the research resources available from the Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services. Monetary awards for best student and fellow posters will be given, sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, and Sigma Xi.

Read about news for researchers from the Network for Innovative Methods in Longitudinal Studies on Aging, including a workshop on community advisory boards planned for August 31, 2023, as well as consulting services available. Stay tuned for a call for pilot project proposals.

An interprofessional team of researchers at UTMB has received a 5-year award notification from the National Institute on Aging for their multi-PI R01 project "Annual wellness visit policy: Impact on disparities in early dementia diagnosis and quality of healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease and its related dementias."

Please join us for a two-day public workshop to identify the most promising directions for behavioral and social science research and data infrastructure investment for studying life course health, aging, and Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias in low- and middle-income countries.

Galveston, TX - In a groundbreaking effort, the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging has achieved a significant milestone in the field of dementia care research by successfully enrolling almost 500 patients with dementia and their family caregivers in the Dementia Care Study, Supporting Individuals and Caregivers (D-CARE).

The Sealy Center on Aging is excited to appoint Rebeca Wong, PhD as its Director ad interim, starting July 1, 2023. Additionally, she has been named Co-director of the UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Adults Independence Center. Dr. Wong is an esteemed economist and population health expert with 35 years of research experience. Her career includes faculty positions at renowned universities and her current roles as the Sheridan Lorenz Distinguished Professor in Aging and Health, Associate Dean for Research, ad interim in the School of Public and Population Health, and Director of the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center on Aging and Health at UTMB. She leads the Mexican Health and Aging Study, supported by NIA/NIH and INEGI.

The Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography, known as the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía or INEGI in Spanish, hosted a press conference to announce the availability of the latest wave 6 of data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) online on July 6th, 2023. Rebeca Wong, Principal Investigator of MHAS, and others gave comments followed by a Q & A session.

A new infographic using data from the Mexican Health & Aging Study (MHAS) discusses the challenges faced by older adults in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how the pandemic has exacerbated existing issues related to aging in the country and emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique needs of older adults, including access to healthcare, social support, and financial stability.

UTMB Pepper Center Scholar Guy Nir, PhD has been selected to participate in the 2023 Butler-Williams Scholars Program. Since 1987, this program has offered an intensive experience on issues, opportunities, and challenges of research on aging, with an emphasis on disparities and health equity.

Dr. Steve Fisher & Colleagues have published a new article, "Cumulative Effects of Comorbid Burden and Overactive Bladder Symptoms on Fall Risk Among Older Women Seeking Treatment for Urogynecologic Conditions," in the journal Urogynecology. Several news outlets covered this new research.

The MHAS team is pleased to announce the highly anticipated release of Wave 6 (2021) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). This milestone marks a significant advancement in research on health and aging in Mexico. Researchers worldwide can now access and download the comprehensive MHAS data and companion codebooks, enabling them to delve into the intricate dynamics of health among the Mexican population over a 20-year period.

The NIA/NIH has renewed the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) grant for five more years (2023-2028). MHAS is a national longitudinal study of adults 50 years and older in Mexico. The baseline survey, with national and urban/rural representation of adults born in 1951 or earlier, was conducted in 2001 with five subsequent waves of interviews through 2021.

A new research study, the Caregiver and Patient Support Study (CAPSS) led by Monique R. Pappadis, MEd, PhD, FACRM, and colleagues is seeking volunteers in the community as well as among healthcare providers.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on June 7, 2023, "International Variation in Treatment and Outcomes for Older Adults Hospitalized with Acute Illness: Findings from the IHSRC Investigators," presented by Peter Cram, MD, MBA. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

Huiwen Xu, PhD and colleagues have received funding for new study, “Nursing homes' visitation bans during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effectiveness and consequences,” from the National Institute on Aging. The 4-year study will be conducted with a team at UTMB including study PI, Dr. Huiwen Xu, Dr. James Goodwin, who also serves as Dr. Xu’s Pepper Scholar mentor, Dr. Yong-fang Kuo, and Dr. Shuang Li. Outside collaborators include Dr. John R. Bowblis and Dr. Jennifer Heston-Mullins from Miami University of Ohio.

Research Investigators in the Sealy Center on Aging are invited to Share Your Science. This ongoing initiative helps faculty share information and get noticed online. In this process, the researcher receives notification that their grant is funded, or their paper published. Then, they send information to our email (aging.research@utmb.edu). We disseminate the Information to our website news and social media. Some topics are included in the Community Connection newsletter, with a mailing list that is made up of more than 800 local subscribers.

Congratulations to Xu, PhD for selection into the Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) Scholars Program in Multidisciplinary Research. This program targets early-career faculty with an interest in multidisciplinary aging research. Scholars participate in a longitudinal mentoring and support program to build knowledge and confidence in pursuing a multidisciplinary research program. They also build connections among scholars to promote multidisciplinary collaboration.

Faculty, fellows, and students from UTMB recently attended the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting. They presented a total of 8 posters. Dr. Erin Hommel stated, "We had a good showing, a great time, and now have a wealth of new knowledge to incorporate."

Postmenopausal Female Volunteers Needed for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Study. Help us better understand barriers to the management of PCOS and the metabolic risks of PCOS across the lifespan.

Researcher Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH is quoted on exercise as play in a recent article, "Learning To Do Handstands at Age 30 Healed My Relationship to Exercise After a Lifetime of Resenting It".

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on May 3, 2023, "Studies of Genome Organization at the Single-Cell Level," presented by Guy Nir, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

Join us for a special lecture on Thursday, May 4th via Zoom: T. Muhammad, International Institute for Population Sciences will present, "Using the Life Course Approach to Examine the Associations Between Objective and Subjective Social Status and Health Among Older Women and Men in India".

The purpose of the study is to identify the causes that accelerate the loss of muscle mass and function with short-term bed rest, a time frame that is modeled after what some may experience during a short hospitalization. This study seeks individuals, ages 60-85 years old with Type 2 Diabetes, not taking insulin. They are asked to attend 2 outpatient clinic visits and one 7-day in-clinic admission where 5 of those days will require complete bed rest. Interested? Contact Paula Skinkis at (409) 772-1907 or pskinkis@utmb.edu.

Join us for a special lecture on Monday, May 1st at noon in RSH 5.100 (or via Zoom). Doctoral Candidate Han Liu from University at Albany, State University New York will present, "Early Health Conditions, Home Environments, and Educational Achievements".

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on April 5, 2023, "A Non-Parametric Approach to Predict the Recruitment for Randomized Clinical Trial in Elderly Inpatient Setting," presented by Xiaoying Yu, PhD and Alejandro Villasante-Tezanos, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

Huiwen Xu, PhD, and colleagues recently published an article in JAMA. "In the long run, we hope to examine whether providing a machine learning-based tool can modify clinical decisions and eventually improve outcomes for this population," said Dr. Xu.

Join us for this community forum hosted by Alice Williams, MS, LBSW, to learn about Alzheimer's, dementia, and memory loss. Share your thoughts about how we can work with the Galveston County community.

Congratulations to Sadaf Milani, PhD, who was invited to join the 2023 Research Centers for Minority Aging Research Scientist Advisory Board.

Videos are now available online for lectures in this year's Lefeber Hughes Winter Series on Aging. Learn about current research on aging from leading researchers.

Congratulations to Sadaf Milani, PhD on a recent grant award, "Environmental Exposures and Health Outcomes among Older Mexican Americans," from Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigators Lecture on March 1, 2023, "Strategies for Rejuvenating Senescent Cells by Low Frequency Ultrasound," presented by Michael Sheetz, PhD. Visit the Pepper Investigator's Lecture page to view the video.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on February 1, 2023, "Gaps and Opportunities in Developing a Chronic Disease Management Model of Traumatic Brain Injury," presented by Monique R. Pappadis, MEd, PhD.

Dr. Neil Mehta, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and current UTMB Pepper Center Scholar, was awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, "Identifying the Causes of the Stagnation in National U.S. Cardiovascular Disease Mortality".

The NIH-funded UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (P30 AG024832) encourages investigators at UTMB to submit pilot research proposals for translational aging research on physical function and recovery from illness in older adults. Proposals from basic science, clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes, population health, and any other area of translational research (T1-T4) are welcome.

You’re Invited! Join us for the annual Lefeber Hughes Winter Series on Aging offered in person at UTMB and online. Now in its 28th year, the series honors Dr. Edward James Lefeber and his daughter, Dr. Nancy Lefeber Hughes. The series begins January 31 with five weekly Tuesday evening lectures and a reception to follow each week for those in person.

Congratulations to Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD for receiving $1.1 million in funding from the National Institute on Aging to improve elder abuse screening. This 2-year project aims to create an effective screening and intervention approach, following a Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model, to improve elder abuse screening in primary care settings and prevent elder abuse while improving caregiver outcomes and training medical providers who serve this high-risk population.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on January 4, 2023, "Recent Trends in the Functional Status of U.S. Adults: Evidence from the NHIS," presented by Neil K. Mehta, PhD, MSc, MA.

Dr. Blake Rasmussen, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, has been invited to be an Advisory Editorial Board Member for the journal Aging Cell. Aging Cell (2021 impact factor: 11.005) is expanding the journal scope to now include studies evaluating the impact of translational geroscience. Dr. Monty Montano from Harvard University and Boston Pepper Center is the Editor-in-Chief. The editorial board consists of national and international leaders in the biology of aging field.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on December 7, 2022, "Excess Deaths from COVID-19 Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Psychiatric Diagnoses: Community Versus Nursing Home," presented by Huiwen Xu, PhD, MHA.

Congratulations to Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD, on being named a fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Congratulations to Philip Cantu, PhD, for receiving an OAIC Coordinating Center award with Co-PI Brienne Miner, MD (Yale U), “Assessing barriers to accessing sleep resources among caregivers of persons living with dementia."

The Sealy Center on Aging and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health are accepting applications for the FY2023 Pilot Research Grant Program in Gender Differences and Aging. Submissions are due January 15, 2023.

The 7th Annual Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) Users workshop was held virtually on October 17-18, 2022.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on November 2, 2022, "Putting Patient-Centered Programs to the Test: The Case of Medical Visit Audio Recording," presented by Meredith Masel, PhD, MSW

UTMB Pepper Center Scholar Dr. Neil Mehta and SCOA Senior Fellow Dr. Peter Cram commented on why the U.S. has higher death rates after heart attacks than other countries in a recent news article in the daily newspaper for Brazoria County, Texas.

In this seminar, Be Part of the Answer - Be a Research Volunteer, Alice Williams presents an overview of the different types of clinical trials, the potential benefits and risks of study participation, and the questions to ask researchers when deciding to participate.

“The Impact of Aging on Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation in Humans,” is presented by Jill Barnes, PhD, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, Bruno Balke Biodynamics Laboratory, University of Wisconsin - Madison.

To make a main-floor bedroom as comfortable and safe as possible, Elena Volpi, MD, director of the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, suggests removing area rugs to prevent tripping and adding night lights for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. Make sure furniture including side tables, footstools, benches, and storage items are removed from the path to the bathroom, for example.​

James S. Goodwin, MD, George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Geriatric Medicine, Sealy Center on Aging will present on Comparative Effectiveness Research in Cancer Care in the DMAC (Data Management and Analysis Core) CERCIT (Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas) Seminar Series.

In this seminar, Be Part of the Answer - Be a Research Volunteer, Alice Williams presents an overview of the different types of clinical trials, the potential benefits and risks of study participation, and the questions to ask researchers when deciding to participate.

Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD, was honored with the Top Faculty Researcher Award at the first John Sealy School of Medicine WE Summit in October 2022. Dr. Al Snih was selected for most scholarly products, publications, and presentations for medical students produced in 2019-2022.

With the support of a $30M grant from the NIH, researchers will lead a multi-site trial to study whether a novel physical rehab intervention improves outcomes in older patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Led by Wake Forest University School of Medicine, a team of scientists and partner institutions including UTMB will lead a Phase III REHAB-HFpEF trial to examine whether a novel physical rehabilitation intervention will reduce rehospitalizations and mortality in patients hospitalized for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on October 5, 2022, "Using National Data to Study Functional Recovery during a Skilled Nursing Facility Stay: Challenges and Opportunities," presented by Brian Downer, PhD.

The website for the Mexican Health & Aging Study has been redesigned and updated. It features improved content organization and layout and enhanced site performance/speed.

This study seeks healthy men and postmenopausal women aged 50-65. Participants are required to attend 9 study visits at the research site over a 4-5 week period and will be reimbursed for participating in this study. If you are interested in participating you can contact Sean Kilroe (spkilroe@utmb.edu 409-747-1918) or Liza Durgens (lidurgens@utmb.edu 409-772-2578).

Researchers in Galveston studying physical function, strength, and recovery from illness are recruiting adult subjects for their studies. Study volunteers can learn more about their own health by participating in clinical trials. Join our mailing list to receive a quarterly newsletter with information about clinical trials, community events, volunteer opportunities, and research on aging news from UTMB.

Join us on October 25th for the 25th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. This event allows faculty, fellows, and students to showcase their research and inform the UTMB community about the aging research being conducted here. It is also a great networking event and opportunity to learn about the research resources available from the Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services. Monetary awards for best student and fellow posters will be given, sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, and Sigma Xi.

An article published by UF highlights recent accomplishments by Sadaf Milani, PhD, MPH, including the 2022 Early Career Investigator Award from the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment, the inaugural Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR, Junior Faculty Research Award, and a career development award (K01) from the National Institute on Aging.

Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD is now Associate Editor for the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences (JGMS). Her participation in the review process is instrumental in promoting high-quality science and positioning JGMS as the leading publication in the field of aging. Dr. Al Snih also recently published several new articles in Hispanic aging research.

The 15th International Conference on Aging in the Americas (ICAA) Cognitive Aging in Mexico and Latino Communities in the United States: Deconstructing Resilience was held September 14 – 16, 2022. A predoctoral and postdoctoral trainee in SCOA earned top awards in the poster session.

Two new developmental projects were awarded to Alejandro Villasante-Tezanos, PhD with Xiaoying Yu, PhD, and Guy Nir, PhD by the Pepper Center beginning Fall 2022. Dr. Nir has also been invited to be a Sealy Center on Aging Fellow.

Elizabeth Lyons of the University of Texas Medical Branch said some people love video games because there's a lot of unpredictability and surprise. Lyons tries to mimic these characteristics in her own fitness game designs. As part of her research, she created a Facebook page to help motivate older women in Galveston, Texas, to go for daily walks. To keep the participants on their toes, she posts fun challenges on the page. “A lot of the things we've been trying to do with challenges is to bring back a sense of childlike wonder," she said – "kind of like what you get when you're exploring a video game world for the first time."

Congratulations to new Pepper Scholar Yunfeng Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Pathology. His research areas include Mechanobiology, Vascular biology, Hemostasis, and thrombosis, as well as Protein dynamics.

Two new pilot projects were awarded to Hoang T. Nguyen, PhD, and Michael Sheetz, PhD by the Pepper Center for 2022-2023.

Past UTMB Medical student Ronan P Allencherril has published a new paper with mentors from the Sealy Center on Aging, "Liver Disease Among Mexican Americans Aged 67 Years and Older".

Join us on October 25th for the 25th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. This event allows faculty, fellows, and students to showcase their research and inform the UTMB community about the aging research being conducted here. It is also a great networking event and opportunity to learn about the research resources available from the Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services. Monetary awards for best student and fellow posters will be given, sponsored by the Sealy Center on Aging, the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health, and Sigma Xi.

We are pleased to announce that the 1st recipient of the Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR, Junior Faculty Research Award is Assistant Professor of Geriatrics, Dr. Sadaf Milani. Dr. Milani is a former T32 Health of Older Minorities Postdoctoral Trainee at the Sealy Center on Aging and a current UTMB Pepper Center Scholar. The Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR Jr. Faculty Research Award is funded for the benefit of junior faculty at UTMB who are conducting research related to rehabilitation, disability, and recovery.

Dr. Huiwen Xu, Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine and Population Health and UTMB Pepper Center Scholar has been appointed President-Elect of the China Health Policy and Management Society (CHPAMS).

Researchers from the Sealy Center on Aging and UTMB Pepper Center attended an annual meeting presented by the Coordinating Board of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center in April 2022. Attendees from UTMB included Elena Volpi, Blake Rasmussen, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Erin Hommel, Sadaf Milani, Neil Mehta, Andrew Murton, and Huiwen Xu.

The Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB has been redesignated as a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Centre through 2026.

Rebeca Wong, PhD, has been appointed as the Sheridan Lorenz Distinguished Professor in Aging and Health in the School of Public and Population Health through June 2025. Dr. Wong is a Professor in the School of Public and Population Health; Director of the WHO/ PAHO Collaborating Center on Aging and Health; and Associate Director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center as well as the Sealy Center on Aging.

A Mechanomedicine of Aging Symposium is planned for July 1st on campus and via webcast featuring presentations from members of the Sealy Center on Aging and Pepper Center at UTMB. All UTMB researchers are invited.

The UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center encourages UTMB investigators to submit RL5 scholar applications. The Research Education Component engages early-stage investigators in a mentored research experience to support the development of externally funded research. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

The MoTrPAC research study is the largest effort to date, aimed at understanding how physical activity improves health and prevents disease. The main goal of the MoTrPAC is to gain a better understanding of how the body changes with physical activity. This will help researchers and doctors to prescribe tailored exercise programs in the future. View a new video about the study.

During the National Institutes of Health Council of Councils Meeting in May, a report from the Working Group on Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Integration was presented and approved by the Council. It was prepared by a working group chartered by the NIH Council of Councils including Dr. Rebeca Wong from UTMB.

As we age, we could benefit from adding more protein to our diet. It's also one of the slowest macronutrients to digest, a 2008 study by the University of Texas Medical Branch explains, which means as well as helping to improve your metabolism, you'll also stay fuller for longer and gradually learn how to eat less.

See a video from the TODAY Show in a segment from June 6th to learn about MoTrPAC (Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium). MoTrPAC is a research study and one of the largest efforts to study physical activity involving universities, medical centers, researchers, and most importantly, participants from all over the country.

Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD, Senior Fellow of the Sealy Center on Aging, has been appointed Assistant Dean for Doctorate Foundational Curriculum at the UTMB School for Public and Population Health. She will oversee PhD curricula and PhD foundational courses, assess program changes, and monitor doctoral student progress and professional development for PhD students.

Congratulations to former MSTAR graduating medical student Wilma Afunugo, this year’s recipient of the Edward J and Ellie Weisiger Lefeber, Sr Prize in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you’ll want to attend this seminar and learn about SPARX3 research Monday, June 20, at 10 AM-Noon at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Presenters: UTMB Sealy Center on Aging Researchers, Summer Chapman, and Jessica Spahn.

Dr. Neil K. Mehta, current scholar in the UTMB Pepper Center and Associate Professor in the School for Public and Population Health is a guest editor of “Why Does Health in the U.S. Continue to Lag Behind,” a special supplemental issue of The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. Several news outlets covered the release of the supplemental issue.

The Data Management and Analysis Core for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) on Cancer in Texas is looking for investigators in Texas academic and research institutes interested in conducting CER on cancer to submit pilot grant proposals.

Known as the “silent thief,” osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily. Read more from Elena Volpi, MD, PhD in this guest commentary in the Galveston Daily News. Learn more about the STEP-HI Study at UTMB.

Professor Douglas Paddon-Jones, PhD, FACSM passed away in August 2021 after a brief and aggressive illness. He was well-respected as a researcher and educator who sought the improvement in human health through the study of muscle mass regulation and function.

The UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center encourages UTMB investigators to submit RL5 scholar applications. The Research Education Component engages early-stage investigators in a mentored research experience to support the development of externally funded research. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

The NIH-funded UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (P30 AG024832) encourages UTMB investigators to submit pilot research proposals for translational aging research on physical function and recovery from illness in older adults. Proposals from basic science, clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes, population health, and any other area of translational research (T1-T4) are welcome.

Monique Pappadis, MED, PhD has been named an Elite Reviewer for 2021 for the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, once more. She is 1 of 29 reviewers or the top 3% with this designation. Elite status designation reflects the number, timeliness, and quality of reviews for the Archives in 2021. Congratulations, Dr. Pappadis!

A new journal article by Rebeca Wong, PhD and colleagues, Migration, work, and retirement: the case of Mexican-origin populations, is highlighted in an article at USC Price, New research: Mexican immigrants have to work longer due to inadequate social security benefits.

Please join us for the Secondary Data Analysis Seminar Series: Identifying Data Sources for High Impact Research as Drs Al Snih and Markides present, “The H-EPESE: Longitudinal Study of older Mexican Americans” sponsored by the Department of Population Health and Health Disparities on April 27th at Noon.

Dr. Raji was the Plenary Speaker at the 2022 Geriatric Medication Safety Symposium this month. He presented, “Opioid and Benzodiazepine Substitute Use in Older Adults Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic.”

UTMB researchers are presenting their work this week at the Population Association of America Annual Meeting. Sealy Center on Aging & UTMB Pepper Center members represented include Rebeca Wong, Brian Downer, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Neil Mehta, Matthew Miller, Phillip Cantu and Sadaf Milani. Population Health Sciences Doctoral Students Monica Hernandez and Mariela Gutierrez, who are mentored by our members, also presented their work.

The UTMB Pepper Center hosted its external advisory board on March 31, 2022, with members Karen Bandeen-Roche, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Thomas M. Gill, MD, Yale School of Medicine (via Zoom), and Stephen Kritchevsky, PhD, Wake Forest University Health Sciences (via Zoom). The agenda included a welcome from UTMB leaders, and an introduction from Pepper Center Director Elena Volpi, MD, PhD with Co-director Rebeca Wong, PhD. An open discussion for future plans was held prior to drafting a final report. Current scholars also gave presentations.

The Dementia Care Study (D-CARE), a nationwide clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of different approaches to caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, has reached its recruitment goal. UTMB is one of the participating locations. The researchers expect to complete the trial in 2024, with results to be published in 2025.

Although COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has seized headlines recently, people are still dying of other causes. Recently, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, sought to answer this question. The authors published their findings in the online journal JAMA Network Open. Their article, "Hospitalizations and Mortality From Non–SARS-CoV-2 Causes Among Medicare Beneficiaries at US Hospitals During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," appears in the March 9 issue of the journal. The study specifically looked at how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected the hospital care of patients without SARS-CoV-2 illness. Click the title above to read more about this important study.

A recording of the latest Pepper Investigator's Lecture, "Research Education: More Than Just Training" presented by Melodi Moore & Heidi Lutz, CRA is now available at the UTMB Pepper Center website.

Geriatric Fellow Dr. Shivani Priyadarshni has published two new peer-reviewed publications with mentorship from members of the Sealy Center on Aging & UTMB Pepper Center: "COVID-19 Infection and Incidence of Myocarditis: A Multi-Site Population-Based Propensity Score-Matched Analysis" in Cureus and "Association of Medication-Assisted-Therapy with New Onset of Cardiac Arrhythmia in Patients Diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorders" in ScienceDirect.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association by Drs. James S. Goodwin, Yong-Fang-Kuo, and Mukaila Raji from the Sealy Center on Aging and others looked at the number of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who practice full time in nursing homes. Providers working full time in the nursing home is associated with better health outcomes for the approximately 1.3 million Americans who are residents in nursing homes.

Congratulations to Dr.Deer on new COVID-19 funding from the Institute for Human Infections & Immunity at UTMB, "Symptom-Based Phenotyping of PASC Patients: Translation to Patient Triage and Treatment"

Congratulations to the winning poster authors and thanks to all who participated in the 24th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. You can view winners and photos and download this year's program at the SCOA website.

Three new pilot projects were awarded to Peter Cram, MD, Tse-Chuan Yang, PhD, and Sagar Gaikward, PhD by the Pepper Center for 2021-2022.

"We hope that this study highlights the disproportionate effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sex as a priority in research on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for interventions to address these sex disparities in the consequences of the pandemic,” said Dr. Sadaf Milani, Assistant Professor in Geriatrics at UTMB and a former Postdoctoral Trainee in the T32 Health of Older Minorities Program at SCOA.

Join us Wednesday at 5 PM - 7 PM at Levin Hall Dining Room for the 24th Annual Forum on Aging at UTMB. The program is available online (only) this year on our website.

The Forum on Aging is an opportunity for faculty, fellows, & students to showcase their research at UTMB. Network & learn more about resources available from SCOA and Research Services. Monetary awards for best student & fellow posters, co-sponsored by Sigma Xi.

We invite teams of investigators from the University of Texas, Austin Center on Aging & Population Sciences, and the University of Texas Medical Branch Pepper Center / Texas RCMAR to submit collaborative proposals for seed projects to be completed during the period from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. An introductory meeting is planned for October 1, 2021.

Rebeca Wong, PhD is presenting a keynote address, "About Resilient Aging – Evidence using the Mexican Health and Aging Study," in the 21st International Conference Series on Aging in the Americas: Resilience and Aging in the Americas. This virtual conference is scheduled for Sept 23 and 24 from 1 pm CST to 5pm CST each day, including sessions on defining resilience and early career mentoring.

The next Health Care Unmasked will take place this Thursday, 9/23 at noon with Drs. Giulio Taglialatela & Rafael Samper-Ternent. They will be discussing Alzheimer's disease and the latest research and clinical care.

Brian Downer, PhD, has been appointed Co-Director of Translational Research Scholars Program in the Institution of Translation Sciences at UTMB.

Today at noon, Dr. Rachel Deer will present as part of the Infectious Diseases & Immunity Colloquium Series, “The Long Road to COVID-19 Recovery: UTMB Post-COVID Recovery Clinic Research Updates”.

As part of $142 million in new grants, the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas, (CPRIT) announced on August 18, 2021 an award of $2,936,731 to Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and Director of the UTMB Office of Biostatistics. The award supports the establishment of a state-wide resource, The Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC) for Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas, at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

UTMB’s Institute for Translational Science and the Sealy Center for Environmental Health & Medicine invites you to participate in a conversation on “Setting the Record Straight: Separating COVID and Vaccine Myth from Fact” featuring Scott Weaver, PhD and Rachel Deer, PhD.

The Pepper Center encourages UTMB investigators to submit pilot research proposals in the areas of aging, physical function, and recovery from illness in older adults. The deadline for a letter of intent is August 5, 2021.

An article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has been selected by Editors as one of the 10 best of 2020. The article by Jacqueline Torres and colleagues uses data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study.

The OAIC National Coordinating Center for the Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Centers has announced funding opportunities including multi-center and freezer RFAs.

UTMB researchers have the opportunity to request core support services from our Pepper Center by visiting our website. Services include support for researchers whose research is in line with the Center’s mission: To improve physical function and independence in older adults.

An article by researchers in the Sealy Center on Aging was selected as a featured article in the July 2021 issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. "Association of Occupational and Physical Therapy With Duration of Prescription Opioid Use After Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Medicare Enrollees" by Kevin T. Pritchard, MS, OTR, Jacques Baillargeon, PhD, Mukaila A. Raji, MD, MS, Lin-Na Chou, MS, Brian Downer, PhD, and Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD.

Monique R. Pappadis, MEd, PhD was selected as the recipient of the 2021 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Early Career Outstanding Mentor Award.

The UTMB Office of the President presents an online Health Policy Dialogue on the “ALL of US” Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Dr. Kenneth Ottenbacher, with over 25 years of exceptional contributions to UTMB, retired as of January 31, 2021. He served as Vice Dean of the School of Health Professions from 1995 to 2001 when he became the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Ottenbacher was appointed as Associate Director in the Sealy Center on Aging in 1998 and has served as a member leadership of the UTMB Pepper Center.

Congratulations to former MSTAR graduating medical student Nicole Huang, this year’s recipient of the Edward J and Ellie Weisiger Lefeber, Sr Prize in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.

Heidi Spratt, PhD was selected by the Graduate Student Organization at the recent Commencement of the Graduation School of Biomedical Sciences at UTMB to receive the 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD was selected by the Graduate Student Organization at the recent Commencement of the Graduation School of Biomedical Sciences at UTMB to receive the 2021 Distinguished Teacher Award.

Brian Downer, PhD has been awarded a multi-year grant from the National Institute on Aging for a grant titled, "The influence of social and cultural context on life course pathways for Alzheimer’s disease, related dementia, and care resources for older Mexican adults."

Save the Date: UTMB in partnership with UT Austin, UCLA, and USC will host the 2021 International Conference on Aging in the Americas. Submit abstracts through June 7, 2021.

Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH, has been invited to serve as a member of the Health Promotion in Communities Study Section, Center for Scientific Review at the NIH. Dr. Lyons was nominated because of her demonstrated competence and achievement in her scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of her research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors.

A video from the recent Pepper Investigators Lecture presented by James S. Goodwin, MD, is now available, "Using Medicare Data to Study the Impact of SARS-Co-V on Older Americans".

The Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial: SPARX3 is now recruiting research participants. We are seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research trial to learn more about the effects of aerobic exercise on people with Parkinson’s disease.

Congratulations to Rafael Samper-Ternent, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine & Scholar in the UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center on a new two-year CTSA Diversity Supplement grant funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

In collaboration with Université Laval and SilverScience20, Dr. Rafael Samper-Ternent is working with Dr. Julie Faieta to present videos about topics for people with dementia and their caregivers. Three videos are now available: "State of the Science: Does COVID-19 Impact Risk of Developing Dementia?", "Quick Tips for Dementia Caregivers: COVID-19 Vaccine", and "State of the Science: Participating in Research."

CALL FOR PILOT PROPOSALS aimed at developing and/or utilizing state-of-the-art quantitative/data science methodologies and technologies to address aging-related research questions.

Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD has been named as an Elite Reviewer for the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for 2020. Elite status designation reflects the number, timeliness, and quality of reviews for the Archives in 2020 as judged by the editors.

Rebeca Wong, PhD has been invited by the chair of the NIH Council of Councils to join a newly formed working group of the Council on Behavioral & Social Sciences Research (BSSR) Integration.

Kimberly P. Hreha, EdD, OTR/L, is the recipient of a highly competitive travel award from the American Federation for Aging Research.

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences Rachel Deer, PhD, recipient of the Institute for Translational Sciences Provost’s Scholar Award for her proposal, "Feasibility Study of Multimodal Interventions to Accelerate Recovery and Improve Quality of Life in COVID-19 Survivors."

The Lefeber Winter Series on Aging, now in its 26th year, features nationally recognized gerontology research educators, basic scientists, clinicians and social scientists. This year all lectures will be ONLINE. Register to receive virtual meeting details. ​

Beyond Health: United Nations announced a new initiative to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities. The initiative approaches different aspects of life including health services as well as other aspects of society such as employment and demand good and services.

​Chih-Ying (Cynthia) Li, PhD, OTR, Department of Occupational Therapy, is a new recipient of the AOTF Early Career Research Excellence Award. Dr. Li had a pilot project in the UTMB Pepper Center.

Dr. Vineet Menachery, a leader in the Metabolism and Biology Resource Core of the UTMB Pepper Center, was interviewed by Ari Shapiro on, "All Things Considered," at NPR regarding the new strain of COVID-19 found in the UK.

Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, are enrolling participants in the Dementia Care (D-CARE) Study to determine the effectiveness of various types of care for dementia. One such story, related by Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Melissa C. Lockhart, PhD, APRN, GNP-BC, involves a person with dementia who was enrolled in the D-CARE Study.

A video is now available online for the Pepper Investigator's Lecture on December 3, 2020, "Patient Priorities Care: Aligning Decisions and Care with Patients' Health Priorities," presented by Aanand D. Naik, MD, Professor and Robert J. Luchi, MD, Chair in Geriatric Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine.

For the 5th time, the annual Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS/ENASEM) seminar for users of the data was organized in collaboration with the Mexican National Institute of Geriatrics (Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, INGER). A trademark of this meeting is the time devoted for questions and answers. Thirty institutions were represented, including 15 from Mexico and 15 from US, Canada, Netherlands, and Cuba.

UTMB is participating as a clinical site for the Study in Parkinson's Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial. The SPARX3 (NCT04284436) study is the first randomized control trial designed to investigate the effects of moderate- and high-intensity aerobic exercise on disease progression in untreated patients with Parkinson’s.

A multidisciplinary team of physicians, rehabilitation specialists, nurses, and data scientists looked at hip fractures. Using a visual analytical method, the team was able to identify subgroups who shared pre-existing conditions and map out how these could lead to a higher risk of readmissions.

Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD has published a new article, "Soy diferente: a qualitative study on the perceptions of recovery following traumatic brain injury among Spanish-speaking U.S. immigrants."

Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR has been selected to receive The Excellence in Rehabilitation of Aging Persons Award for 2020 at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting. The award is designed to acknowledge outstanding contributions in the field of the rehabilitation of aging individuals. A lecture in the name of this award is part of the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting Online and will feature an address by Dr. Ottenbacher on November 5, 2020.

A new factsheet from Dr. Wong and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) is now available. Download Aging in Mexico: Frailty MHAS Factsheet 20-3 October 2020 at the WHO/PAHO website.

New School of Health Professions / School of Nursing Grant: Multidisciplinary Development of Walk and Talk Videos to Increase Physical Activity Among Diverse Older Women. Annalyn DeMello PhD, MPH, RN​ (SON) Elizabeth Lyons, MPH, PhD (SHP), and Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD (SHP) were awarded a fiscal year 2021 SHP/SON grant for a new project that aims to increase physical activity in older women.

Rachel Deer, PhD is leading the research arm of a new Post-COVID Recovery Clinic at UTMB. Recovery from COVID-19 is posing a new set of challenges for patients and physicians alike. The Post-COVID Rehabilitation Clinic has a multidisciplinary team from a broad range of specialties to address the issues of COVID-19 aftercare. Make an appointment by calling (832) 632-6666.

“An important concern is the current penalties for readmission do not to take into consideration the impact on mortality. Reducing readmissions may inadvertently affect minority and disadvantaged patients. These patients are not only at higher risk for readmission, they may also be at higher risk of dying,” said senior author Dr. Gulshan Sharma, director of the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care & Sleep Medicine.

The UTMB Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center encourages UTMB investigators to submit RL5 scholar applications. The Research Education Component engages early-stage investigators in a mentored research experience to support the development of externally funded research. Deadline: October 9, 2020.

Proposals from any domain of translational research (T1-T4) are welcome. Projects will be funded for one year, with total annual direct costs not to exceed $50,000. LOI Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2020

United Press International: Research conducted at UTMB found that 90 percent or more of people undergoing total knee or hip replacement in 2017 received a prescription for opioid pain relievers within 60 days of surgery, up from 82 percent three years earlier.

Mukaila Raji, MD and Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD with their team published, "Opioid Use and Pain Control After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the US, 2014 to 2017," in JAMA on July 30, 2020. Fourth year medical student Rahul Shah was the first author on the article.

Mukaila Raji, MD and Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD received a second round of funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH for grant, "Effectiveness, toxicity and safety of opioid and benzodiazepine substitutes," through 2024.

Monique R. Pappadis, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, has been awarded a new grant from the National Institute on Aging for her 5-year project, "Chronic Care Management of Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury."

The National Institute on Aging has announced $6.3M in continued funding for the UTMB Pepper Center for the next five years (through June 2025). Funded since 2000, the Center has focused on helping older adults improve muscle strength and regain function after an illness.

The eagerly awaited results for the Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE) Trial are now available in the New England Journal of Medicine. This was a team effort among multiple institutions and health care systems across the US.

​The Volpi/Deer hospital research team has been recruiting for in-hospital and post-discharge studies since late April 2020 when Phase 1 research came back online after the COVID19 shutdown. They are currently recruiting for two randomized clinical trials investigating pragmatic interventions to slow muscle loss during hospitalization and accelerate recovery of physical function after discharge.

Researchers are invited to join two upcoming webinars from The Pepper Coordinating Center. July 10 - Succeeding in aging research during the pandemic: a webinar for research fellows and junior faculty. July 15 - Spotlight on AGS20 Virtual Sessions: Preventing Serious Fall Injuries: Primary Findings from the STRIDE Study.

The Chief Research office and UTMB CTSA in collaboration with UTMB infectious disease research community hosted a COVID-19 Research Virtual Workshop to facilitate learning and discussion around critical research questions related to the pandemic. On Thursday June 11, researches from the Sealy Center on Aging gave presentations about COVID-19 in older adults.

As the world continues dealing with the pandemic, an international team of computational scientists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, and virologist, led by Texas researchers, are working to rapidly identify drug like molecules that stop SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Cynthia Li and colleagues published a new scientific article, "Impact of Self-Care and Mobility on One or More Post-Acute Care Transitions". This paper is a result of a pilot project from the UTMB Pepper Center previously awarded to Dr. Li.

Dr. Mansoo Ko and colleagues published a new scientific article, "Gait Deviation Associated with Absent Terminal Stance Phase in People with Stroke." Dr. Ko is a past recipient of a pilot project from the UTMB Pepper Center.

A new factsheet from Dr. Wong and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) is now available. Download Aging in Mexico: The Most Vulnerable Adults MHAS Factsheet 20-2 May 2020 at the WHO/PAHO website.

April 20, 2020 at noon: Sealy Center on Aging & Health of Older Minorities Special Lecture, “Living Arrangements of Older Mexican Americans," presented by Phillip A. Cantu, PhD, Project Director, Texas Resource Center for Minority Aging Research and the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly.

Former UTMB Pepper Center Pilot award recipient Chih-Ying (Cynthia) Li, PhD, Dept of Occupational Therapy has been selected to receive a 2 year AOTF grant and a 5 year NIH/NICHD grant award.

Dr. Ottenbacher received a new 5-year grant from the NIH/NIA, titled “Academic Leadership Award in Data Science and Discovery” (K07AG064031)

“Loss of lean body mass and function with aging decreases the amount of metabolically active tissue, which can lead to insulin resistance,” Elena Volpi, MD, said at the World Congress on Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. “Insulin resistance reduces muscle protein anabolism and accelerates sarcopenia, perpetuating a vicious cycle.”

Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly: An Update Presented by Kyriakos S. Markides, PhD, Professor, Annie and John Gnitzinger Professor of Aging; Editor, Journal of Aging and Health

Congratulations to Elizabeth J. Lyons, PhD, MPH, on new professorship: the Grace Bucksch Gnitzinger Distinguished Professorship in Aging.

Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD collaborated with the Chronic Brain Injury Task Force of American College of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) on a special issue of Brain Injury Professional.

Rebeca Wong, PhD and colleagues hosted the annual meeting for users of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) November 20-22 in Mexico. Sixty-five international scholars and students attended the meeting and thirty-six oral presentations were given. Participating institutions included eleven from Mexico and sixteen from outside of Mexico.

A new paper in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences shows potential new ways to speed up recovery from the hospital. UTMB researchers tried different strategies to boost the function of older adults hospitalized for an acute illness.

The Texas Resource Center on Minority Aging Research is accepting pilot applications until January 13, 2020.

Hospitalist schedules promoting inpatient continuity of care may be associated with better outcomes of hospitalization. James S. Goodwin discusses in a podcast with JAMA.

Physical activity and diet play a vital role in protecting muscle health. Doug Paddon-Jones, PhD studies how to retain muscle strength and how to consume proteins to help with this process.

Recent PhD program graduate Jaspreet Sodhi and colleagues published a paper, Pain as a predictor of frailty over time among older Mexican Americans in the Journal PAIN. A video and press release are now online.

Faculty and student researchers from the Sealy Center on Aging and the Pepper Center at UTMB attended the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of American November 13-17, 2019 in Austin, Texas.