The USC Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Resource Center for Minority Aging Research was established through funding from the National Institutes of Health and aims to increase the number, diversity and academic success of junior faculty focusing their research on the health and economic wellbeing of minority elderly populations. It is part of a network of NIH-funded Alzheimer’s disease-focused Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (AD-RCMAR).
The focus area of the center is racial and ethnic differences in risk, diagnosis and care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and opportunities to reduce disparities in prevention and care, and the health and economic consequences for the persons with the disease and their families. The mission of the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR is to provide infrastructure and resources to support the academic success of underrepresented minority researchers and to increase the number and diversity of researchers in aging. Research coming out of the project is highlighted here.
USC AD/ADRD RCMAR program launched in 2012 and is one of 18 programs throughout the country. Leading health economists, clinicians, aging researchers, other social scientists, survey methodologists, and computer scientists collaborate as part of the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR projects to promote new lines of research and increase the number and diversity and academic success of researchers focusing on the health and economic wellbeing of diverse older adults. It is directed by Julie Zissimopoulos, Jennifer Ailshire, and Emma Aguila. In addition, USC AD/ADRD RCMAR leaders include Maria Aranda, Eileen Crimmins, Mireille Jacobson, and Karen Lincoln.
As a national program that supports the careers of diverse socio-behavioral and biomedical researchers, in a letter dated June 8, 2020, 30 AD-RCMAR directors from across the country acknowledged the historical, institutional, and systemic racism in our country.
Goals of the Project
- To support research careers in health and economics addressing disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
- To solicit competitive nationwide pilot studies.
- To mentor minority junior faculty in multidisciplinary training.
- To develop new lines of research.
Collaborating Centers
- USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics
- USC Roybal Center for Health Policy Simulation
- USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- USC/UCLA Center on Biodemography and Population Health
- Center for Economic and Social Research
External Partners
- California State University, Fullerton
- Spelman College
- Howard University
- University of Texas at Austin
- Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession
- American Economic Association
- University of California, San Diego
USC AD/ADRD RCMAR Scholars
Past USC AD/ADRD RCMAR fellows can be found here.
How to Get Involved
There are two ways to get involved with the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR project:
- Pilots: Pilot projects are led by junior scholars conducting research on aging in underrepresented populations. Pilot projects exploring aspects of cognitive decline are given special interest.
- Visiting Fellows: Visiting Fellows are senior scholars looking to collaborate with USC AD/ADRD RCMAR pilot projects and Schaeffer Center faculty to develop new lines of research on health disparities and aging.
Timeline
Application deadline: Early Spring
Start date: Fall
Application Process
Information about applying to be a USC AD/ADRD RCMAR scholar is here.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Briana Taylor or call 213-821-7968.
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