September 2024 Director’s Status Report

Legislation of Interest

• On July 30, 2024, the Senate passed via unanimous consent two bills:
  • S.133 , the NAPA Reauthorization Act; if enacted, this legislation would extend the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) through 2035, expand the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services to include additional members, and incorporate into NAPA a focus on promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors associated with cognitive decline
  • S.134 , the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act; if enacted, this bill would extend the requirement for NIH to produce and submit to Congress an estimate of its budget and personnel needs for carrying out initiatives pursuant to the National Alzheimer's Project
  • Both bills have House companions ( H.R. 619 and H.R. 620 , respectively) that have advanced out of committee and await consideration on the House floor.
• On July 23, 2024, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced several bills that would amend the Older Americans Act to provide care and other services for older adults and their care partners. Each of the bills has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The bills include:
  • S. 4729 , the Convenient Care for Caregivers Act, which would support pilot projects through the Older Americans Act for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers to receive health care and other supportive services at the same time and location. The pilot would collect and report data on health measures to the Administration on Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine the effectiveness of this type of care.
  • S. 4731 , the Disease Intervention through Nutrition Education (DINE) Act, which would expand Food is Medicine under the Older Americans Act by adding screening and referrals to Food is Medicine programs, including food-based interventions, under the Act’s health promotion and disease prevention work.
  • S.4732 , the Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act, which would revise the definition of “family caregiver” and include family caregiving under the ACL’s Innovation Lab.
  • S. 4733 , the Family Caregiver Peer Support Act, which would authorize $10 million annually for HHS grants to develop or expand peer support programs for family caregivers, with priority for programs that serve regions and populations underserved with respect to peer support programs.
  • S. 4734 , the Home Modifications for the Climate Crisis Act, which would clarify that home modifications under the Older Americans Act can include measures related to heating, cooling, air quality, energy efficiency, and assistance with utility and power.
  • S. 4735 , the Financial Services Improving Noble and Necessary Caregiving Experience (FINANCE) Act, which would provide financial planning services related to the needs of family caregivers.
  • S. 4736 , the Respite Care and Resources for Everyone (CARE) Act, which would support the development or establishment of integrated settings where family caregivers can receive respite care simultaneously with other supportive services.

• On July 2, 2024, President Biden signed H.R. 2365 , the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, into law.

  • This act requires HHS to carry out a project to address Parkinson's disease and related conditions.
  • Among other components of the project, HHS must (1) implement and periodically update a national plan to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure the disease; and (2) improve the care of those with the disease. HHS must also annually assess the preparations for and response to the increased burden of Parkinson's disease.
  • In addition, the act establishes a council, comprised of federal and nonfederal stakeholders, to advise HHS on and make recommendations concerning the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

• On June 28, 2024, Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) introduced H.Res. 1330 , which acknowledges support for the goals and ideals of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

  • The resolution has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce committee.

• On June 27, 2024, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced H.R. 8816 , the American Medical Innovation and Investment Act.

  • The bill has been referred to both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
    • The House Ways and Means Committee advanced an amended version to the full House on June 27, 2024.
    • The House Energy and Commerce Committee has yet to consider the bill.
  • If enacted, the bill would, among other provisions, add a cognitive screening benefit to the existing Welcome to Medicare initial exam and Medicare annual wellness visits.
    • Cognitive screening would need to be performed using “tools identified by the National Institute on Aging as meeting its criteria for selecting instruments to detect cognitive impairment in the primary care setting.”

• On May 7, 2024, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced S.4276 , the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act. The bill has been referred to the Senate HELP Committee.

  • If enacted, the bill would reauthorize the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) grant program and establish dementia-specific ECHO grants to provide training to primary care physicians on dementia detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care.
  • A House companion, H.R. 7688 , was introduced by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) on March 22, 2024. This bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Hearings, Visits, and Other Topics of Interest

On Thursday, May 23, 2024, NIA Director Dr. Richard Hodes joined NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli and several other institute directors in testifying before the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the FY 2025 President’s Budget Request for NIH. The hearing is archived here .

On Monday, July 22, 2024, NIA Deputy Director Dr. Amy Kelley briefed the staff of the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees on NIH’s strategic efforts to focus, expand, and intensify national research programs in palliative care.

On Friday, June 28, Dr. Eliezer Masliah, the Director of NIA’s Division of Neuroscience (DN), presented at an NIH Lunch & Learn session on Alzheimer’s 101. These sessions are intended for Congressional staff to become familiar with NIH research and learn more about specific research topics like Alzheimer’s.

On Friday, June 14, Dr. Erin Gray, a Program Director in DN, joined Dr. John Ngai, the director of NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative, to brief the staff of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) on the BRAIN Initiative and its impact on aging and dementia research.

On Wednesday, May 29, Dr. Liz Necka, a Program Director in NIA’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR), and other subject matter experts from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in a briefing on hoarding disorder with the staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

On June 14, 2024, House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a framework for reforming NIH. Many of these reform proposals are included in the House Labor-HHS spending bill noted above. Among other provisions, this framework would change the structure of NIH from its current 27 Institutes and Centers to 15 Institutes and Centers. As noted above, there would be a new National Institute on Dementia.

• Chair Rodgers sought written input from the broader community, with input requested by August 16, 2024.
• A summary of the framework can be found at NIH_Reforms_Framework_Pager_f94f6eac2c.pdf (PDF, 203K).
• The full text of the proposed framework can be found at NIH_Reform_Report_f6bbdca821.pdf (PDF, 3.5M).

On May 9, 2024, Senate HELP Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released a white paper detailing proposals to modernize NIH, based on feedback received from stakeholders in response to a request for information.

• The white paper can be found at https://www.help.senate.gov/ranking/newsroom/press/ranking-member-cassidy-releases-new-proposals-to-modernize-nih .

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Staff Changes

Mayra Alvarez, M.S., joined the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) as a SBIR/STTR Program Analyst in the Office of Strategic Extramural Programs (OSEP). Ms. Alvarez will be responsible for SBIR/STTR finding list development, SBIR/STTR award and budget tracking, portfolio analysis, and coordination of entrepreneurial development and SBIR initiatives.

Tracy Anderson joined the Intramural Research Program (IRP) as an Administrative Officer in the Procurement Office. He will be working in the Delegated Acquisitions Office and will be responsible for reviewing acquisition documents, conducting market research, issuing solicitations, and awarding contractors. Before joining NIA, Mr. Anderson was a Procurement Planner at Magna Seating.

Yuna Bae-Shaaw, PharmD, Ph.D., joined BSR as a Program Officer in the Population and Social Processes Branch (PSP). Her portfolio aligns with her expertise in health services research, with a focus on quasi-experimental study design and panel data analysis of treatment and payment policies in Medicare and Medicaid. Prior to joining NIA, she served as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) Mann School of Pharmacy, where her research focused on interventions and policies aimed at improving dementia care in nursing homes. She also evaluated the impact of value-based, multidisciplinary care delivery models for managing poorly controlled chronic conditions. Dr. Bae-Shaaw's research interests include strategies to improve the quality of medication therapy in people with dementia, particularly reducing the use of potentially inappropriate medications such as antipsychotics. Dr. Bae-Shaaw received her PharmD from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy from USC.

Kimberley Billingsley, Ph.D., joined the IRP as a Staff Scientist 1 in the Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD). Dr. Billingsley will be responsible for the application and development of third-generation sequencing methods using DNA and/or RNA from human blood, cells, and tissue. She will use her extensive experience in third-generation sequencing technologies to assist in the generation, quality control, handling, and analysis of large-scale sequencing data. Dr. Billingsley received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 2019 from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. After receiving her degree, she joined the Laboratory of Neurogenetics as a Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow. Concurrently, in 2020, she became an Honorary Research Associate in the Laboratory of Mental Health and Behavior at the University of Liverpool.

Kaylee Beklik joined the IRP as an Administrative Officer. She will support and assist laboratories with administrative tasks such as travel, personnel, the summer intern program, and contract task orders. Ms. Beklik previously worked at the Aesthetic Dental Spa in Vienna, VA, as the Office Manager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Ben Chapman, Ph.D., joined BSR as a Branch Chief in the Individual Behavioral Processes Branch (IBP). Dr. Chapman received his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of North Texas in 2005, with a focus on emotion and aging under lifespan psychologist Bert Hayslip. Dr. Chapman then pursued a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2005 and became an assistant professor in 2008 after receiving an NIA K award. As part of his K award, Dr. Chapman cross-trained in social and lifecourse epidemiology, leading to an MPH in 2010 and an R01 on personality, social class, and later life health in 2012. In the ensuing period, Dr. Chapman completed an MS in biostatistics and was awarded two additional R01s, two R21s, and an R61, receiving promotions to associate professor with unlimited tenure then full professor. The central themes of his work have focused on the interface of personality and social class as they pertain to later life mortality and cognitive outcomes. He has also collaborated on work in mindfulness and social isolation among older adults. His very recent work has focused on links between bilingualism, perceived discrimination, and later life cognitive outcomes. Dr. Chapman was a member of the Social, Personality, and Interpersonal Processes study section, served on numerous special emphasis panels (many for NIA RFAs), and appeared several times on the former NIA-S study section. He was also an associate editor of Psychosomatic Medicine and a long-time editorial board member (and occasional action editor) of Psychology and Aging. He has participated in multiple BSR workgroups and pre-conference workshops around personality, served on the MIDUS data monitoring committee, and is excited to be joining the BSR team.

Joseph Chiarenzelli, MPH, joined BSR as a Social Science Analyst in the Office of Data Resources and Analytics (ODRA). In this role, Mr. Chiarenzelli will coordinate strategic planning for ODRA initiatives, oversee project management, and facilitate operational process improvement. Mr. Chiarenzelli joins us from the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), where he provided strategic planning and policy support to OIG leadership; managed a broad portfolio of program evaluations across HHS focused on scientific integrity, Medicare, and technology; and designed and implemented policies, procedures, and data systems. Mr. Chiarenzelli completed a Master of Public Health from the University at Albany before joining the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow.

Cynthia Chisolm, DVM, joined the IRP as a Staff Scientist 1 in the Comparative Medicine Section of the Office of the Scientific Director (OSD). Dr. Chisolm will support a wide variety of scientific studies on aging, while managing numerous trainings and surgery classes for the scientific staff. She will also assist with the day-to-day clinical veterinary operations of the IRP vivarium in Baltimore. Dr. Chisolm received her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown PE, Canada, in 2012. Shortly after receiving her degree, Dr. Chisolm became a Clinical Veterinarian, Colony Manager, for Alpha Genesis Incorporated in Yemassee, South Carolina. In 2014, Dr. Chisolm joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a resident in laboratory animal medicine, and in 2016 became an Associate Clinical Veterinarian, also with the CDC. In 2018, Dr. Chisolm joined NIA as a contracted board-certified Clinical Facility Veterinarian in the Comparative Medicine Section, where she remained until transitioning to the Staff Scientist position. Dr. Chisolm is board certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and possesses a veterinary license in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.

Taylor Cusher, MPH, joined BSR as a Scientific Program Specialist in ODRA. In this role with ODRA, she will work on initiatives related to real-world data, data science, and artificial intelligence. Ms. Cusher joins us from Biogen Digital Health where she managed a real-world research network for multiple sclerosis. Her experience also includes real-world studies in rare cancers, collaborating with patient foundations, and working towards increased patient engagement in all realms of research. Ms. Cusher completed a Master’s in Public Health from the George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Rachel Dows joined the IRP as a Program Specialist in the OSD. She assists Dr. Luigi Ferrucci and also helps with the operations of the office. Ms. Dows previously worked as an Operations Assistant in the OSD. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Towson University.

Lewei Duan, Ph.D., joined BSR as a Program Official in the PSP. As an interdisciplinary health economist and statistician, Dr. Duan will leverage her extensive expertise to advance a portfolio of research in health systems, dementia care, and palliative care, focusing on improving healthcare delivery and outcomes for aging populations. Before joining NIA, she worked as an Economist at CMS, overseeing comprehensive reviews of policy impacts on health systems and outcomes. Her career also includes notable roles at Kaiser Permanente, where, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, she conducted pioneering research on health systems and healthcare delivery, and as a Biostatistician, she led critical studies and developed robust data and statistical strategies. Previously, she served as a Principal Statistician at the University of California, Los Angeles, providing statistical consultation for healthcare and biomedical research. Dr. Duan holds a Ph.D. in Health Economics and an MS in Biostatistics from the University of Southern California, and a Master’s in Biology with a focus on molecular genetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research encompassed behavioral economic strategies, program evaluation, and the application of innovative statistical and econometric methodologies to healthcare challenges, driven by a commitment to enhancing health systems and advancing care for individuals with dementia and serious illnesses.

Sandra Fogel joined the IRP as a Program Specialist in CARD. She will be assisting with onboarding fellows, summer students, and volunteers. Before joining NIA, Ms. Fogel worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, in the Naval Architecture and Engineering Department, in West Bethesda, MD. She holds an associate’s degree from Montgomery College.

Jonathan Gooch joined BSR as a Clinical Trials Coordinator (CTC) in the Clinical Trials Office. In this role, he will provide data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) support, including attending and supporting DSMB teleconferences, maintaining a monitoring body (DSMB, Safety Officer) tracking portfolio, and facilitating ongoing direction and support to the Executive Secretary. Along with other CTCs, he will serve as a point-of-contact and customer support provider to investigators and DSMB members and will provide BSR Program Officials with clinical trials support. Prior to joining NIA, Mr. Gooch served as a Senior Clinical Project Manager for a Contract Research Organization, where he managed a contract providing clinical studies management support for NIA’s Extramural Research Program.

Mike Greene joined NIA as a NIH Pathways Fellow in DN. He is currently a rising junior at Boston University, where he studies computer science and international relations. Previously, Mr. Greene interned for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Office of Workplace Solutions and Precise Software Solutions. Mr. Greene is working with Richard Kwok, Emerald Nguyen, and the NIA Climate Scholar, Arnab Ghosh, on easing the process of integrating climate change data into NIA studies and beyond.

Tina Gupta, MD, joined the IRP as a Staff Clinician 1 in the Clinical Research Core. Dr. Gupta will provide clinical oversight for participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and the Genetic and Epigenetic Signatures of Translational Aging Laboratory Testing (GESTALT) study. She will be responsible for the day-to-day management of medical issues that might arise during the participants’ involvement in both studies. She will also be performing procedures such as skin, fat, and muscle biopsies, lumbar puncture procedures, and bone marrow biopsies as part of these protocols. Dr. Gupta received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 2010. She then completed a one-year internal medicine and pediatrics internship followed by a three-year residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. After completing her residency, Dr. Gupta became a Global Health and Hospital Medicine Fellow at the University of Chicago Medical Center in 2014, where she completed a general internal medicine fellowship. During this time, she completed inpatient internal medicine hospitalist work as a Clinical Associate and practiced internal medicine at the Hospital Sainte Thérèse, in Hinche, Haiti with Partners in Health in direct patient care. In 2016, Dr. Gupta joined the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a General Internal Medicine Fellow and Hospitalist where she undertook coursework in epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, cost-effectiveness analysis, and health equity and disparities and also served as a Nocturnist. From 2018-2023, Dr. Gupta worked as a Physician Hospitalist at Sibley Memorial Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine) in Washington, DC, where she currently remains in a part-time capacity. She is boarded in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

Diane Hanneman, Ph.D., recently joined NIA’s Office of Legislation, Policy, and International Activities as a health science policy analyst. Prior to this role, Dr. Hannemann was a science writer and editor on an NIA communications contract with a focus on Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s-related dementias content. Dr. Hannemann also previously directed an integrative health research program at the Institute for Integrative Health in Baltimore and managed regional science, technology, and health programs in the Asia-Pacific at the Department of State. Her first NIH chapter began as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the NIH Office of Science Policy, addressing policy issues related to emerging technologies, including nanotechnology and stem cells, and later supporting NIH activities with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Hannemann earned her Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University and her B.A. in chemistry from Purdue University.

Christian Hatcher joined the NIA Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (GCG) as a Health Specialist in GCG’s Office of the Director. In this role, he will work closely with GCG leadership on Division organizational structure and procedures. He will serve as a central contact for GCG planning, administrative, legislative and communications activities and represent GCG on various extramural trans-NIA and NIH Committees. Mr. Hatcher is a biologist who comes to NIA from his role as Operations Coordinator at StageBio, an international Contract Research Organization specializing in preclinical and clinical histopathology for evaluation of drugs, biopharmaceuticals, cell/gene therapies, and medical devices. Prior to that appointment, he served as a biologist in the Vaccine Immunology Program at the Vaccine Research Center at NIAID.

Allison Herman, Ph.D., joined the IRP as an Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator 1 in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Sciences (LCS). Dr. Herman will oversee the Vascular Aging Biology Unit. The Vascular Aging Biology Unit will investigate the genomic changes that govern cellular senescence during normal vascular aging and in age-related cardiovascular pathologies. Dr. Herman earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences from Temple University School of Medicine in 2019. After receiving her degree, she joined NIA in the RNA Regulation Section of the Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics (LGG) as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2021, Dr. Herman became an Independent Research Scholar (Research Fellow) in the LGG where she oversaw the Translational Senescence Unit and investigated the genomic changes that govern cellular senescence during normal aging and in age- related pathologies. She in the LGG until beginning her tenure-track appointment.

Jane Hettinger, Ph.D., joined DN as a Program Director in the Clinical Interventions and Diagnostics Branch. Dr. Hettinger manages a portfolio of AD/ADRD non-pharmacological clinical trials, supporting research on cognitive training, sleep, stress management, social engagement, and other lifestyle interventions to prevent, delay, and treat dementia. Her portfolio also includes related studies in recruitment science, measurement development, and bioethics. Prior to joining NIA, Dr. Hettinger was a Program Director in the Center for Coordinating Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) overseeing scientific steering committees of the National Clinical Trials Network. She originally joined the NIH as a Health Program Specialist at NINDS where she worked on the NIH Neurobiobank and the ALS Strategic Plan. She received her Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Washington University in St. Louis and completed postdoctoral training at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. Her research focused on the contributions of neuronal signaling and microglial functions to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and progression.

Anna Holland joined the IRP as a Staff Assistant in the OSD. Ms. Holland will be supporting Dr. Luigi Ferrucci, Scientific Director, by managing calendar, arranging travel, managing the OSD budget, and supporting special projects. Before joining NIA, Ms. Holland was Executive Assistant to the Honorable Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Systems from Morgan State University.

Tianyi Huang, Sc.D., joined the IRP as an as a Tenure-Track Investigator 1 in the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences (LEPS). Dr. Huang will oversee the Sleep Health and Aging-Related Phenotypes (SHARP) Unit. The SHARP Unit will aim to understand the role of sleep and circadian health in the development of aging-related disease, with the goal of promoting sleep and circadian health for healthy aging at the population level. Dr. Huang earned his Sc.D. in Epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2015. After receiving his doctoral degree, Dr. Huang completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA and, in 2016, became an Instructor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and an Associate Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In early 2020, he transitioned from an Instructor of Medicine to an Assistant Professor of Medicine while maintaining his Associate Epidemiologist appointment, where he remained until his appointment in LEPS.

Princess King joined the IRP as an Administrative Officer in the Procurement Office. Ms. King previously worked as a Procurement/Contract Specialist with SJI Industries. She earned a Biological Science Degree and a Healthcare Administration Degree from the Community College of Philadelphia, an Applied Science Degree from Central Texas College, and a Business Administration Degree.

Eva Lawson-Lipchin joined the Office of Strategic Development and Partnership in DN as a Program Analyst. She will oversee the management of the International Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Portfolio database. Ms. Lawson-Lipchin will draw from her prior experience as a Grants Management specialist at NIA, a Project Manager at Deloitte, and a Director of Grants for the Hevolution Foundation.

Catie-Megan Moran joined the Office of Communications and Public Liaison (OCPL) as a technical information specialist in the Web and Design Services Branch. In this role, she will lead quality assurance and digital accessibility (Section 508) compliance for OCPL-managed websites, guide strategic coordination with web stakeholders, and support OCPL’s intranet resources. Previously Ms. Moran worked as a Web Content Specialist at the Federal Maritime Commission providing strategic development and maintenance of web content and overseeing 508 compliance activities for the agency. Before that, she worked for NIH maintaining the public NIH HR website (http://hr.od.nih.gov) and Jobs at NIH website (www.jobs.nih.gov). Ms. Moran has a B.A. in English Literature from Trinity College.

Gregory Noland joined the IRP as an Administrative Officer (Procurement). He will be working to provide management of administrative services including all or several of the following functions: budgetary and financial management services; purchasing, procurement, and contract administration; and/or management and program analysis. Mr. Noland’s previous position was with the NIH Clinical Center as a Contract Specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Global Supply Chain Management from DeVry University in 2016.

Antoinette Percy-Laurry, DrPH, joined DN as a Program Director in the Population Studies and Genetics Branch. She will manage a portfolio of epidemiology studies focused on AD/ADRD in diverse populations. Dr. Percy-Laurry completed her Ph.D. with an emphasis on epidemiology at Morgan State University. She has served NIH for almost 20 years, in cancer control and population sciences, and later minority health and health disparities. Her background includes clinical trials, data quality and interpretation, global health, health behavior, and implementation science. Dr. Percy-Laurry is also a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Esmeralda Ramirez-Peña, Ph.D., joined BSR as a Health Scientist Administrator in ODRA. Dr. Ramirez-Peña will work on initiatives related to real-world data and advanced analytics. She joins us from NCI, where she worked with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program to develop methods for the quality assessment of the registry’s first collection of cancer recurrence data from electronic health records and its linkage with pharmacy claims. Dr. Ramirez-Peña received a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and received a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Catrina Robinson, Ph.D., joined the DEA’s Scientific Review Branch as a Scientific Review Officer. She earned her doctorate degree in pharmacology from Auburn University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan. Dr. Robinson spent three years as a Research Investigator at the University of Michigan and then transitioned to the Medical University of South Carolina, where she has served on faculty for the past 10 years. Recently, she was an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of South Carolina and Research Health Scientist at the Ralph Johnson VA Medical Center. Dr. Robinson’s research focused on understanding the impact of metabolic risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol on cognitive aging and dementia. Specifically, she focused on identifying early pathological vascular changes. Dr. Robinson’s research has been funded by NINDS, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Dr. Robinson has served/chaired on numerous study section panels, including NIH.

Nader Shehadeh joined the IRP as a Biologist in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (LCI), Clinical Core Lab. His main responsibilities will include DNA/RNA extraction and analysis from samples in the BLSA and the GESTALT study. He is also part of the newly established SomaLogic proteomic platform team at NIA. Previously, he held a contractor position in LCI for seven years prior to joining as a Biologist. Mr. Shehadeh earned his degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rebecca Seel, M.A., joined OCPL as a public affairs specialist in the Media Relations Branch. In this role, she is managing press inquiries and press outreach for the institute. Previously, Ms. Seel worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at HHS drafting press releases and quotes, as well as tracking all HHS public health media activities. Before that, she was responsible for media relations at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Ms. Seel has an M.A. in Journalism from Syracuse University and a B.A. in American Studies from Union College.

Monica Serra, Ph.D., joined GCG as a Program Officer in the Geriatrics Branch. Dr. Serra was previously at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she was an Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care, as well as a Research Health Scientist in the San Antonio VA Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center. Her research has focused on exercise and nutritional interventions in older age, with particular emphasis on intentional weight loss and exercise training effects on body composition, cardiometabolic fitness, and diabetes risk in overweight older adults, as well as rehabilitation interventions to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life and muscle metabolism in older adults with chronic disease and disability. Dr. Serra received her BS in Athletic Training from Duquesne University, an MS in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. in Exercise, Nutrition, and Preventive Health from Baylor University. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Athletic Trainer. Dr. Serra’s areas of scientific management will include physical activity and exercise studies, nutritional science, and resilience research.

Ashly Sneed joined BSR as an Extramural Support Assistant in the Office of Director to fill urgent needs for more essential administrative support. Working alongside other members of our Administrative Team, Ms. Sneed is preparing travel and conference registrations for BSR staff and is handling a variety of other purchasing requirements. Ms. Sneed comes to us after 14 years of broad administrative, operations, and customer service experience at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and most recently Children’s National Hospital.

Steven Sollott, MD, Senior Investigator in the LCS, retired from the NIA IRP in May 2024. Dr. Sollott received his MD in 1984 from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, NY. After earning his degree, Dr. Sollott completed an Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the North Shore University Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. In 1986, he became an Assistant Clinical Instructor in Medicine at Cornell University Medical College. Following that, in 1987, he joined the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a Fellow in Cardiology. Dr. Sollott joined the LCS in 1988 as a Medical Staff Fellow. He then became a Senior Staff Fellow in 1990, an Investigator in 1994, and Senior Investigator in 2002, where he remained until his retirement. He served as the Head of the Cardioprotection Section, LCS. During his career within the LCS, Dr. Sollott invented the use of paclitaxel (including via drug-eluting stents and coated balloons) to prevent and treat vascular restenosis in the coronary and peripheral circulation, which has been used in millions of patients worldwide. NIH-patented and clinical-translated technology resulting from this invention ranked in the "NIH Top 20 Commercially Successful Inventions" for over 10 years, ranking #1 from 2005 through 2008. He also discovered a fundamental process in biology called “ROS-induced ROS release” by which the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), a sudden increase of inner mitochondrial membrane permeability that can induce mitochondrial destruction and cell death, can be induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Indira Turney, Ph.D., joined the IRP as an Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator 1 as well as an NIH Distinguished Scholar in the LEPS. Dr. Turney will oversee the Brain Health Equity (BHE) Unit. The BHE Unit will be dedicated to advancing research and action in achieving equitable brain health outcomes for all individuals, with a focus on historically minoritized and underserved communities. Dr. Turney earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Pennsylvania State University in 2018. After receiving her doctoral degree, she became a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Department of Neurology, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Medical Center working in the laboratory of Drs. Jennifer Manly and Adam Brickman. While at Columbia, Dr. Turney’s work focused on identifying life-course socio-cultural mechanisms underlying disparities in the aging brain’s molecular, structural, and functional architecture. In 2022, she transitioned to her role as an Associate Research Scientist in the same department, where she remained until joining the LEPS.

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Past Meetings

Minority Health and Health Disparities in Neuroscience Webinar Series — Apr. 25, 2024 — Virtual

DN is hosting the webinar series, Minority Health, and Health Disparities Research in Neuroscience to provide an opportunity for grantees to share research advances, lessons learned regarding challenges and opportunities in the field. On April 25, DN hosted the webinar by Dr. Sid O’Bryant, Dr. Alexandra Clark (Assistant Professor), Dr. Raul Vintimilla (Assistant Professor), and Mr. Mohammad Housini (Ph.D. candidate). This webinar featured opportunities for conducting cutting-edge research in health disparities in Alzheimer’s disease leveraging the Health & Aging Brain Study – Health Disparities infrastructure, network, and database. Dr. O’Bryant and his team provided an overview of the study, discussed lessons learned, and provided information on access to the publicly available database as well as successful examples for seeking grant funding. Finally, the panel of junior investigators discussed their research leveraging the HABS-HD database, infrastructure, and network. More information on DN’s past and upcoming Minority Health and Health Disparities Webinars can be found on our new webpage. For more information, please contact Dallas Anderson ( andersda@nia.nih.gov ), Damali Martin ( martinda@mail.nih.gov ), Maryam Ghaleh ( maryam.ghaleh@nih.gov ), Richard Kwok ( richard.kwok@nih.gov ), Camille Pottinger ( pottingerca@mail.nih.gov ), and Tayona Pearson( tayona.pearson@nih.gov ).

ADSP Fungen Review Meeting — Apr. 30-May 1, 2024 — Columbia University, New York/Hybrid

The 3rd Annual Program Meeting of the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) Functional Genomics Consortium (FunGen-AD) was held at Columbia University, New York, on April 30 and May 1, 2024. The meeting offered an opportunity for FunGen-AD External Advisory Board members, National Institute on Aging (NIA) leadership, and NIA program staff to review progress and plans and advise on future directions of the consortium. The meeting included eight sessions: 1) Diversity: Impact of Ancestry on AD Risk; 2) New Insights into AD Gene Expression and Regulation; 3) Microglia, Monocyte, and Other Cell Type Function in AD; 4) Mechanisms of Vascular Impairment in AD; 5) Model Development; 6) Joint Projects: Loci; 7) Joint Projects: Pathways; and 8) New Resources and Integration with Other AD Programs. Two highlights of the meeting were the impressive contributions from trainees who were extensively involved in the presentations, and the collaborative initiatives amongst investigators of the FunGen-AD teams. For more information, please contact Alison Yao ( alison.yao@nih.gov ).

NIA’s Grantsmanship Workshop for Lmic Investigators — May 14, 2024 — Westin Cape Town, South Africa/Hybrid

NIA hosted a grantsmanship workshop for scientists from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on May 14, 2024, in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association Regional Satellite Symposium (Westin, Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa). The objectives of the workshop were to: 1) increase participation of LMIC scientists in research grantsmanship; 2) help LMIC scientists to develop strategies for sustainable research support and collaborations; 3) encourage scientists to utilize competitive research as a tool to address needs; and 4) encourage scientists to leverage resources offer through the NIH and NIA. Program officers from Fogarty International Center, NIMH, and NINDS participated in the workshop. For more information, please contact Damali Martin ( martinda@mail.nih.gov ) and Minki Chatterji ( minki.chatterji@nih.gov ).

Advanced Care Planning (ACP) in Primary Care Settings for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s Disease/Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) — May 30, 2024 — Virtual

BSR sponsored a May 30, 2024, virtual meeting on Advanced Care Planning (ACP) in Primary Care Settings for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s Disease/Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (AD/ADRD). This virtual workshop focused on the following topics: (1) when and how ACP is appropriate in the event of an AD/ADRD diagnosis; (2) if and when primary care is an appropriate setting for an ACP discussion with people living with dementia and their caregivers; (3) the optimal timing of ACP discussions; and (4) how to best prevent discordant ACP desires between patients and caregivers. For more information, please contact Theresa Kim ( theresa.kim@nih.gov ), Priscilla Novak ( priscilla.novak@nih.gov ), or Charlie Le ( charlie.le@nih.gov ).

The Nineteenth Annual Division of Aging Biology New Investigators Forum (DABNIF) — Jun. 2-3, 2024 — Madison, Wisconsin

The purpose of the forum was to bring together new awardees (i.e. Principal Investigators who are new to funding by the Division of Aging Biology (DAB)) in the spring/summer of the year following their award to meet and interact with NIA program staff as well as to allow participants to network with each other. To accommodate the large number of participants, each new PI presented a poster describing the planned research (or results to date). In addition to a keynote speaker, sessions included short “elevator speech” presentations by new awardees, as well as presentations by DAB staff and NIA leadership, on issues such as scope of the science supported by DAB, funding mechanisms, grant review issues, and other related topics. The format also provided a significantly expanded opportunity for networking among the investigators and plenty of opportunities for interactions with NIA staff. The overriding goal of the meeting was to encourage continued success for the new PIs as well as encourage interactions and collaborations. The format of this forum has been adjusted to reflect the 2023 forum participants’ evaluation. The forum was held on June 2-3, 2024, in Madison, WI in conjunction with American Aging Association 52nd Annual Meeting. For more information, please contact Christy Carter (301-496-6402 or Christy.carter@nih.gov ).

Nasem Board on Behavioral, Cognitive and Sensory Sciences (BBCSS) Meeting on Fidelity as a Powerful Tool in Aging-Related Behavioral Intervention Research — Jun. 5, 2024 — Virtual

BSR sponsored a June 5, 2024, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) BBCSS meeting on the topic of “Fidelity as a Powerful Tool in Aging-Related Behavioral Intervention Research.” Discussion topics included the rationale and methods for ensuring behavioral intervention fidelity and the role of fidelity in understanding an intervention’s mechanisms of behavior change. For more information, please contact Melissa Riddle ( melissa.riddle@nih.gov ), Lisa Onken ( lisa.onken@nih.gov ), or Allie Walker ( allie.walker@nih.gov ).

The NIH Aging and AD/ADRD Omics Data Resources — A Path to Interoperability — Jul. 11-12, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

On July 11-12, 2024, NIA hosted a hybrid workshop on aging and AD/ADRD omics data and related resources across and outside the NIH facilitated by co-chairs Lucila Ohno-Machado, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A, Yale University and David Bennett, M.D., Rush University. This workshop explored opportunities and challenges for establishing an equitable, effective omics data ecosystem to accelerate and improve NIA-supported research. This workshop built on the NIH AD/ADRD Platforms Workshop, FAIRness Within and Across Data Infrastructures, conducted in June 2023 and continued the discussion by convening experts from diverse fields to address current challenges and opportunities in data interoperability, representation, and usage for both aging and AD/ADRD data resources. Sessions in this two-day workshop included: Introductions to Aging and AD/ADRD Data Platforms and Other Data Ecosystems; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in Omics Research; Global Data Sharing, Current Challenges and Future Opportunities; Omics Research in a Distributed Environment, Computational Challenges and Solutions; and Creating Interoperability Between Model System and Human Omics Data in Aging and AD/ADRD. The workshop concluded with the Sessions' chairs providing suggestions of short- and long-term actionable items that would improve the interoperability and equity of the aging and AD/ADRD omics data ecosystem. Registrations for this workshop were at capacity, and based on the post-workshop feedback, the agenda and debates were well received by the audience. For more information, please contact Michael Bennani ( michael.bennani@mail.nih.gov ) or Mette Peters ( mette.peters@nih.gov ).

2nd Federal Interagency Workshop on Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Resources and Needs for Biomedical Research — Jun. 18, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

The NIH-Wide Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Resource Planning Working Group convened a one-day meeting of federal agency representatives to strengthen interagency communications, identify areas of mutual need and challenges in sponsoring and conducting research with nonhuman primates (NHP), and discuss opportunities for collaboration and leveraging of existing resources. This effort supported recommendations made in Nonhuman Primate Evaluation and Analysis Part 2: Report of the Expert Panel Forum on Challenges in Assessing Nonhuman Primate Needs and Resources for Biomedical Research (December 19, 2018), which called for the establishment of an Interagency NHP Consortium in coordination with other federal agencies that conduct or sponsor NHP research. This workshop was sponsored by NIA and NIAID. For more information, please contact Manuel Moro (301-496-6402 or morom@mail.nih.gov ).

Protective Influences of Postnatal Development on Adult Health Trajectories/Outcomes in Humans — Jun. 20-21, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

The goal of this workshop was to expand the limited current knowledge about differences among human juvenile stages and adulthood in in bio/physiological factors affecting disease susceptibility, their mechanistic underpinnings, and their effects on health and disease outcomes of later life stages. Greater knowledge about factors responsible for juvenile phenotypes or maturational changes could have implications for translational research on potential health effects in adult life of modulating such influences/factors during youth or during adulthood. Participants included representation from domestic and international academic institutions. Publication of a meeting report is planned. For more information, please contact Francesca Macchiarini (301-827-4013 or francesca.macchiarini@nih.gov ) and Chhanda Dutta (301-496-4161 or duttac@mail.nih.gov ).

Heterogeneity of Aging: New Perspectives — Jun. 21, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

This hybrid workshop was organized jointly by the NIA Intramural and Extramural Programs. It included 10 invited speakers. The focus was on the translation of research findings about the heterogeneity of aging into improved health. There were 222 registrants for the workshop, most of them virtual, and 137 unique viewers. The speakers will compile a white paper for publication.

The aims of the workshop were to:

1. Define heterogeneity in different research contexts
2. Teach about methodological approaches to study the heterogeneity of aging
3. Propose approaches to translate knowledge about heterogeneity into improved outcomes for all older adults and elimination of health disparities
4. Identify gaps and opportunities in this field of research (for example, in establishing multidisciplinary teams, reaching and including diverse populations, standardizing measurements, developing models, implementing data sharing, and developing tools for direct experimental and clinical applications)

For more information, please contact Tiziana Cogliati (240-397-4596 or tiziana.cogliati@nih.gov ).

Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program (CITP) Grantee and Steering Committee Meeting — Jul. 11, 2024 — Eugene, Oregon

This was the annual meeting (in person) of the CITP. The scope of the meeting was to discuss progress and accomplishments of the CITP, receive feedback from the external members of the Steering Committee, and plan for the following year. The CITP Steering Committee reviewed and approved to enter the testing pipeline two compounds nominated by members of the scientific community and recommended by the CITP Access Panel. The meeting spanned over 1.5 days, with 12 invited participants (including the 3 PIs and at least two staff members for each lab funded in the CITP, the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) and the 4 external members of the Steering Committee). The meeting was open to DAB staff who connected via Zoom. Among the discussion points for the meeting were: 1) results from the compound screening; 2) updates on the DCC and mortality analysis; 3) aging clock, metabolomics, and computational predictions; 4) health span and sensitized strains; and 5) updates on tested compounds. A closed session of the CITP Steering Committee discussed long-term goals of the Program and measures of success. For more information, please contact Jennifer Fox (301-496-6402 or jennifer.fox@nih.gov ) and Tiziana Cogliati and (240-397-4596 & tiziana.cogliati@nih.gov ).

Unite Workshop: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understanding and Addressing Structural Racism and Health — Jul. 18-19, 2024 — Virtual

The goal of this NIH workshop was to convene researchers and partners from diverse academic backgrounds, community-based organizations, other government agencies, and the private and non-profit sectors to move forward on developing and evaluating bold and novel research approaches toward eliminating structural racism and health disparities. The elimination of structural racism and health disparities goes beyond the biomedical model and requires an interdisciplinary approach that supports and amplifies research in areas that NIH typically does not fund (e.g., historians, humanistic social sciences), as well as the perspectives of underrepresented scholars. Such research can contribute to informing structural and policy-focused research seeking to understand and eliminate health disparities. Building on the extensive social science literature on structural racism, the focus was to assemble diverse scholars with expertise in criminal justice, employment, environment, health, housing, and social media. UNITE is a trans-NIH sponsored initiative. For more information, please contact Frank Bandiera ( frank.bandiera@nih.gov ), or Kait Lee ( kaitlyn.lee@nih.gov ).

Exploring the Intersection of HIV and Aging — A Geroscience Perspective — Jul. 21, 2024 – Munich, Germany/Hybrid

The purpose of the workshop was to focus on the translational potential of biological findings, including discoveries related to the hallmarks of aging, into interventions for people living with HIV (PWH) or at risk of HIV acquisition. Several biological changes are thought to bring about the progressive loss of function and the onset of frailty and chronic diseases at older ages. Geroscience is based on the observation that aging is the major risk factor for these progressive declines and that interventions targeting these molecular changes may prevent or delay the onset of aging-related diseases. Much of the currently funded research in geroscience is being conducted in people without HIV, and given the increased risk of aging-related comorbidities and associated mortality in PWH, the objectives of this workshop were to:

• Provide currently known information on the epidemiology of and mechanisms that lead to chronic disease, premature morbidity, functional decline, and geriatric syndromes in PWH;
• Increase the understanding of how basic mechanisms of aging impact the overall health of PWH;
• Explore interventions that may prevent and slow premature aging in PWH; and
• Develop and circulate a meeting white paper or summary report

This pre-conference workshop was held on July 21, 2024 in Munich, Germany in conjunction with AIDS 2024, the 25th International AIDS Conference. For more information, please contact Ann Namkung (301-496-6838 or ann.namkung@nih.gov ).

3-D in Vitro Tissue Systems for Research on Aging — Jul. 29-30, 2024 — Bethesda, Maryland/Hybrid

This hybrid workshop aimed to examine how complex mammalian 3-D in vitro tissue platforms can be developed, validated, and leveraged to study aging. The goals were to assess the status of the field and critical needs, to define future directions, and to outline opportunities and priorities to better support the development of novel in vitro platforms for research on aging. The workshop extended over two days with 20 invited speakers. One of the speakers was Dr. Ochocinska from the NIH Office of the Director, one of developers of the NIH Common Fund Complement-ARIE who illustrated the scope of this newly launched program. Proceedings from this meeting will inform a new RFA and will be summarized in a white paper compiled by the invited speakers. Some of the focus points were: 1) pros and cons of direct reprogramming vs iPSC reprogramming-differentiation-aging; 2) need for live recording technologies that are amenable to monitoring in vitro systems over time and/or other new/enhanced technologies to record aging phenotypes in vitro; 3) tools, infrastructures, etc., that are most needed to facilitate progress in developing microphysiological systems (MPS) to study aging; 4) questions on aging that can be reasonably asked using MSP; and 5) questions on aging that are most challenging for MPS. For more information, please contact Tiziana Cogliati (240-397-4596 or tiziana.cogliati@nih.gov ).

Current Progress and New Directions in Delirium Research — Aug. 5-6, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

There is mounting evidence that delirium in older adults is associated with increased risk for dementia and may contribute to morbidity and death. Older adults who have had delirium have an increase in risk for developing dementia, and among those with dementia, delirium is associated with accelerated dementia progression, loss of independent functioning, and higher mortality. The August 5-6 workshop targeted four key areas in delirium research: Basic Brain Mechanisms; Delirium Prediction; Delirium Prevention; and Delirium Outcomes to explore knowledge gaps and potential advances in delirium research. For more information, please contact Luci Roberts (301-480-5129 or roberlu@mail.nih.gov ).

Enhancing Diversity in Healthy Aging Cohorts for Improved Research on Longevity and Health Span — Aug. 6-7, 2024 — Bethesda, Maryland/Hybrid

Exceptional longevity (EL) can be characterized in several ways, including survival to a specific extreme age (longevity), disability free (active life expectancy), disease-free relative to peers (exceptionally healthy aging), or cognitively intact survival. The goal of research on EL and health span is to promote healthy aging by improving the extent and quality of health span through actionable lifestyle, environmental, and/or pharmaceutical interventions. There is a need for increasing the racial/ethnic composition of the EL cohorts with the goal toward understanding whether there are racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status population differences in factors contributing to EL and identifying those factors. The objectives of the workshop were to discuss collaborative approaches for increasing racial/ethnic composition of the EL cohorts, including possible study design considerations, identification of core variables to be collected across diverse populations, needs for standardization of data collection methods, ethical considerations and to explore possible research infrastructures to support such collaborative efforts. It is anticipated that recommendations from this workshop will result in a future NIA initiative. The workshop was convened by GCG with input from NIA extramural divisions. For more information, please contact Chhanda Dutta ( duttac@nia.nih.gov ), Beth Wilmot ( beth.wilmot@nih.gov ), and Nalini Raghavachari ( nalini.raghavachari@nih.gov ).

Translational Science in Climate and Health Webinar Series — Apr. 23, May 13, Jun. 24, Jul. 16, Aug. 13, 2024 — Virtual

From April to August 2024, NIA hosted a webinar series on Translational Science in Climate and Health as part of the NIH Climate and Health Initiative. In these monthly meetings, experts explored key issues in the translation of scientific insights around climate and health into actionable interventions that reduce harms from climate change — the goal of the NIH’s Climate Change and Health Initiative Strategic Framework. The first webinar took place on April 23rd, on the topic of “Opportunities for climate and health research through the use of implementation science approaches: frameworks, measures, examples.” The second webinar took place on May 13th, on the topic of “Team Science in Climate and Health.” The third webinar took place on June 24th, on the topic of “Environmental Justice, Climate Justice, and its Integration and Application into Interventions.” The fourth webinar took place on July 16th, on the topic of “Creating enduring change: climate change, health, and policy: a systems level perspective for older aged populations.” The fifth and final webinar took place on August 13th, on the topic of “Learning from Examples: Trials and Tribulations.” For more information, please contact Emerald Nguyen ( Emerald.nguyen@nih.gov ).

NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program — Aug. 21-23, 2024 — Bethesda, Maryland

The Butler-Williams Scholars Program is an important training investment in the NIH/NIA outreach, enhancing the pipeline of future aging researchers. The Program provides unique opportunities for junior faculty and researchers new to the field of aging to gain insight about aging research. The program offers a variety of perspectives and includes presentations, seminars, and interactive small group activities and discussions. For more information, please contact Patricia Jones (301-435-0792 or patricia.jones@nih.gov) and Andrea Griffin-Mann (301-451-8846 or andrea.griffin-mann@nih.gov ).

NASEM Committee on Population (CPOP) Workshop on Identifying Midlife Social Exposures That Might Modify Risk for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Early Life Disadvantage — Aug. 29, 2024 — Washington, DC/Hybrid

BSR sponsored an August 29, 2024, NASEM CPOP meeting on the topic of “Identifying Midlife Social Exposures that Might Modify Risk for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Early Life Disadvantage.” Early-life disadvantages may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and midlife social exposures to structural and institutional forces may modify those risks. The goals of this workshop were to identify research gaps and opportunities to accelerate knowledge of how risks may be reduced. Discussion topics included: life course models of cognition and risk of dementia; educational and workplace contexts/policy; social and health policies; and data available to explore these topics. For more information, please contact Emerald Nguyen ( emerald.nguyen@nih.gov ), Amelia Karraker ( amelia.karraker@nih.gov ), or Shanna Breil ( shanna.breil@nih.gov ).

APOE Genetics as a Major Determinant of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathobiology — Sept. 5-6, 2024 — Bethesda, Maryland/Hybrid

NIA sponsored a workshop entitled “APOE Genetics as a Major Determinant of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathobiology” held on the NIH campus September 5 and 6, 2024. This workshop brought together lead investigators in the area of APOE genetics and related fields to discuss APOE4 as a toxic gain of function molecule associated with the pathobiology of AD/ADRD. Lead experts in the field addressed several issues that included the genetics related to APOE4 and the importance of diversity and protective variants. Also discussed were the roles of APOE3 in AD/ADRD. Additionally new technologies in the genetics and molecular fields that may support moving towards therapeutics of APOE 4/4 were brought forward. The workshop ended with a brainstorming session where key questions were addressed such as: How to determine the optimal amount to lower APOE4 and the effects of various APOE isoforms/variants on APOE4 lowering? How long would lowering or raising of APOE4 need to be continued to have a long-term effect on Aβ, tau, neurodegeneration, inflammatory responses, or the immune system? What is the best way to determine if APOE can be lowered in the brain? Other areas of discussion included the mechanisms of APOE variants and their effects in different ancestries, the effects of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, the implications of APOE variants in Aβ immunotherapy, and the effects of APOE in other diseases. The outcome of the workshop will be a collection of principles by which the AD/ADRD field of genetics and related research areas can best proceed while leveraging existing information to identify the next best steps in the study of APOE and the etiology of AD/ADRD. For more information, please contact Marilyn Miller ( millerm@nia.nih.gov ) and Michael Bennani ( michael.bennani@mail.nih.gov ).

Biomarkers of Aging Symposium — Sept. 12, 2024 — Baltimore, Maryland

This event will include experts across the field of aging and will focus on two aspects of biomarkers development: 1) the why and how of constructing a new generation of biomarkers of aging that leverages on complementary information coming from multiple omics; and 2) the development of biomarkers of aging using longitudinal data, including longitudinal phenotypes and longitudinal trajectories of biomarkers. The NIA IRP, in co-sponsorship with the Biomarkers of Aging Consortium, will host the symposium at the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) in Baltimore, MD. For more information, please contact Sarah Lewis (667-205-2604 or sarah.lewis@nih.gov ).

Future Meetings

Cognitive Training for Older Adults — Jul. 10, Sept. 30, Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 6, 2024 — Virtual/Hybrid

The BSR-sponsored cognitive training webinar series explores key issues in cognitive training with the goal of identifying research gaps and opportunities to advance the field. For the webinar series, cognitive training is defined as interventions using cognitive tasks or intellectually demanding activities, the goal of which is to enhance general cognitive ability or cognitive functioning in the real world. Over the course of five webinars, key questions to be explored include: Does cognitive training generalize (i.e., transfer to real world function)? How? For whom does cognitive training work? And why? And in what context? What can we do to make cognitive training work better? Webinar 1, titled “Setting the Stage,” took place on July 10th, 2024. The subsequent webinars are scheduled for September 30th, October 4th, October 18th, and November 6th, 2024. For more information, please contact Melissa Treviño ( melissa.trevino@nih.gov ) and Marianna Molina ( marianna.molina@nih.gov ).

Linkage Webinar Series — May 29, Jun. 12, Jun. 26, Jul. 24, Aug. 21, Sept. 26, 2024 — Virtual

The purpose of the NIA Data LINKAGE Program is to link NIA-funded study data with existing datasets from CMS and other sources and establish a cloud-based environment to support data accessibility and sharing. LINKAGE aims to reduce resource cost and time barriers, and to promote access for researchers. From May to August 2024, the NIA LINKAGE team has hosted webinars on various topics, including a May 29th webinar on “Medicare Data Overview and Linked Data Products,” a June 12th webinar on “Using Understanding America Study – CMS Linked Data,” a June 26th webinar on “Limitations of Medicaid Data,” and a July 24th webinar on “Using National Long Term Care Survey-CMS Linked Data.” We also look forward to an August 21st webinar on “Using Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center – CMS Linked Data,” and a webinar on September 26th, on the topic of “Using National Health and Aging Trends Study – CMS Linked Data.” For more information, please contact Irim Azam ( irim.azam@nih.gov ).

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Working Group on Aging Symposia — Sept. 29, 2024 — Toronto, Canada

Annually there are 12 to 20 Working Groups that meet on the same night of the ASBMR meeting at the end of the regular scientific sessions. These Working Groups are not funded or sponsored by the ASBMR but are organized by people with similar interests. There is only one Working Group devoted to the science of aging, while there are a wide range on things like rare diseases, certain clinical problems, etc. We anticipate that the Working Group on the science of aging will improve and sustain the quality of the program. For more information, please contact John Williams (301-496-6402 or williamsj6@mail.nih.gov ) and Lyndon Joseph (301-496-6926 or Lyndon.joseph@nih.gov ).

NASEM CPOP Meeting on Health and Disability Among Working-Age Adults: Trends, Disparities, and Implications for Employment and Federal Programs — Oct. 15-16, 2024 — Washington, D.C./Hybrid

BSR will sponsor a NASEM CPOP meeting on the topic of “Health and Disability among Working-Age Adults: Trends, Disparities, and Implications for Employment and Federal Programs.” The public workshop will focus on trends and disparities in disability and disabling morbidity among the working-age population (ages 25-64), sources and social/economic factors influencing these trends, and implications for employment and public programs. This workshop will also explore the interactions of these trends with changing occupational distributions for accessibility and work capacity and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on working conditions. After the workshop, a summary of the presentations and discussions will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with NASEM institutional guidelines. For more information, please contact Kriti Jain ( kriti.jain@nih.gov ), Amelia Karraker ( amelia.karraker@nih.gov ), and Shanna Breil ( shanna.breil@nih.gov ).

33rd Annual Nathan W. Shock Award Lecture — Oct. 30, 2024 — Baltimore, Maryland

The Shock Lecture will be held at the BRC and will include keynote lectures from Dr. Paolo Sebastiani and Dr. Christos Davatzikos. The Shock Award Lecture aims to honor the legacy of Dr. Shock and invites leaders in the aging community to share their work with NIA researchers. For more information, please contact Sarah Lewis (667-205-2604 or sarah.lewis@nih.gov ).

Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Filling the Gaps in Translational and Clinical Research —November 12-13, 2024 — Rockville, Maryland/Hybrid

The workshop’s goals are to bring interdisciplinary researchers to discuss Filling the Gaps in Translational and Clinical Research of Dementia with Lewy Bodies. The workshop broadly supports the goals of the National Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in response to the NAPA, to build upon and leverage HHS programs and other federal efforts to help change the trajectory of AD/ADRD. For more information, please contact Nina Silverberg (301-496-9350 or silverbergn@mail.nih.gov ) and Grayson Donley (301-402-7376 or grayson.donley@nih.gov ).

Common Data Elements Webinar Series — Apr. 16, May 3, Jun. 7, Jul. 12, Dec. 6, 2024— Virtual

From April to December 2024, NIA is hosting a webinar series on Common Data Elements (CDE). These webinars will allow the NIA community to connect with AD/ADRD and aging research while facilitating discussions about resulting research findings and other information as it relates to CDEs. The first webinar took place on April 16th, on the topic of “Data Harmonization in Research on Epidemiology of Aging.” The second webinar took place on May 3rd, on the topic of “Systematic Data Harmonization Enabled by Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Large Language Models (LLM).” The third webinar took place on June 7th, on the topic of “Application of Computational Data Harmonization Approaches to Study the Structure and Function of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD).” The fourth webinar took place on July 12th, on the topic of “Data Harmonization of Large Digital Technology Datasets for Aging and Dementia Research in the Context of Short Technology Life Cycles.” The fifth and final webinar is planned to take place on December 6th, on the topic of “Harmonization of Cognition Assessment Measures.” This webinar series is sponsored by DN and BSR. For more information, please contact Karyn Onyeneho ( karyn.onyeneho@nih.gov ) and Irim Azam ( irim.azam@nih.gov ).

Back to Contents

Web Content

Media & Outreach

Meetings

Conferences, Exhibits, and Events

Meetings With External Audiences

• American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Scientific Meeting, May 8–11, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes presented the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting’s Public Policy Plenary Lecture, “50 Years of Research at the National Institute on Aging.” In addition, Dr. Hodes and Dr. Amy Kelley, along with NIA staff, participated in respective symposia for early-career and mid-career researchers.
• NIH Pain Consortium: Symposium on Advances in Pain Research, May 30–31, 2024 — Dr. Amy Kelley shared opening remarks for the symposium, providing an overview of NIA-funded research at the intersection of aging and pain.
• American Aging Association (AGE) Annual Meeting, June 2–5, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes provided remarks in the AGE Annual Meeting’s opening session, in addition to delivering the keynote presentation for the Nathan Shock Center Symposium and serving as a speaker in the Division of Aging Biology’s New Investigators Forum.
• 10th Annual BRAIN Initiative® Conference, June 16–18, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes shared introductory remarks for a symposium on the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN), “Building on BICCN: Alzheimer's Disease Multimodal Atlasing Projects (AD-MAPs).”
• Allen Institute for Brain Science, June 20, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes, along with Dr. Eliezer Masliah, director of NIA’s Division of Neuroscience, met with Dr. Hongkui Zeng of the Allen Institute for Brain Science to discuss areas of mutual interest in neuroscience research.
• American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Webinar, June 26, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes, along with representatives from NIA’s Division of Aging Biology, Division of Neuroscience, and Office of Strategic Extramural Programs, shared information about NIA’s research portfolio in immunology and relevant funding opportunities and initiatives.
• American College of Rheumatology (ACR), June 27, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes, Dr. Amy Kelley, and other NIA leaders and staff met with ACR to discuss NIA budgetary and research updates, as well as training and career development opportunities.
• Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) Annual Meeting, June 27–28, 2024 — Dr. Amy Kelley delivered the RCMAR Annual Meeting’s plenary address, discussing NIA support for the RCMAR mission of increasing diversity and inclusion in aging research and within the aging research workforce.
• NIH Aging and AD/ADRD Omics Data Resources Workshop: A Path to Interoperability, July 11–12, 2024 — Dr. Amy Kelley provided welcoming remarks to workshop participants, highlighting the importance of building data infrastructure and interoperability to enable and accelerate research in aging and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
• Friends of NIA Budget Meeting, July 22, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes and Dr. Kenneth Santora, along with other NIA leaders and staff, convened with the Friends of NIA to discuss the NIA budget and fiscal planning processes.
• NIA-VA Partnership Meeting, July 23, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes, Dr. Amy Kelley, and NIA staff joined with VA leadership to discuss ongoing NIA—VA collaborations.
• Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC), August 13, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes and Dr. Amy Kelley, along with NIA staff, met with DRRC to discuss NIA-funded research advances, as well as relevant initiatives and funding opportunities.
• Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC), August 15, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes, Dr. Amy Kelley, and NIA staff provided updates to PQLC on NIA’s palliative care research activities.
• Butler-Williams Scholars Program, August 21–23, 2024 — Dr. Richard Hodes provided welcoming remarks to the 2024 cohort of Butler-Williams Scholars.

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