Research Education Component

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood CA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – RESEARCH EDUCATION COMPONENT (REC) The REC of the Los Angeles Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (LA OAIC) supports the career development, mentoring, and research training for early-stage investigators to transition to independent research careers. Our program will serve multiple institutions in Los Angeles. The LA OAIC will be a focal point for translational geroscience research training for the Southern California region, delivered by one of the largest cadre of geroscientists to serve as research mentors in the U.S. Our overall goal is to foster development of early-stage investigators in translational geroscience. Scholars will have a comprehensive skill set spanning several facets of the field, from basic biology of aging to clinical trial design and management. Our goals will be achieved through the following Specific Aims: 1) Recruit and select a highly qualified and dedicated group of early-career REC Scholars and facilitate their development into clinical and translational scientists in geroscience; 2) Provide structured research training activities and multidisciplinary mentoring teams that regularly monitor, evaluate, and guide the progress of each REC Scholar through their research and career development programs focused on translational geroscience; 3) Promote REC Scholars’ career development using all activities of LA OAIC programs as well as the national OAIC network; and 4) Monitor and evaluate the success of the REC individual activities and the REC overall. The REC features two phases of Scholars, an initial Phase 1 will provide salary support, intensive mentoring, and didactics in translational geroscience to a diverse cadre of early-stage investigators. Subsequently, Phase 2 provides continued career development activities for Scholars finishing Phase 1 emphasizing growth and independence in leadership skills. The REC addresses a major barrier in the advancement of translational geroscience by training the next generation of geroscientists. Importantly, across our shared environment, we have >1000 academically oriented early stage faculty in various clinical departments and schools, representing one of the largest pools for recruitment of qualified candidates for the OAIC REC Scholars program in the country. Our Scholars will be well positioned to translate discoveries to promote healthspan extension and accelerate progress in translational geroscience both locally and nationally.