Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR)
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) was selected in 1997 when the RCMAR program began, and is a collaborative research, community outreach, and faculty mentoring program based at Wayne State, Michigan State, and the University of Michigan. The purpose of the MCUAAAR is to recruit, mentor, and develop the next generation of diverse NIH researchers engaged in research on the science and amelioration of health inequities and disparities among African American older adult populations, and to engage the community of African American older adults in new ways to promote research participation.
The combination of the University of Michigan (UM), Wayne State University (WSU), and Michigan State University (MSU) makes them one of the most resource-intensive set of universities in the world. State-of-the-art computing, statistical, library, and research consultation resources are readily available to faculty researchers.
The significance of MCUAAAR is rooted in our four major approaches: (1) Overcoming critical barriers that continue to face African American scientists and particularly those doing health disparities research1, (2) Improving scientific knowledge in the Behavioral and Social Sciences study of unique aspects of African Americans’ stress and coping across the life course, (3) Partnering with MCCFAD (a RCMAR-AD), and other NIA, NIH and University Centers, as well as five HBCUs, and (4) Disseminating best practices in recruitment, retention and community based research in African American communities.
Overview of Pilot Process
MCUAAAR’s Purpose
One of MCUAAAR’s major goals is to identify and mentor junior investigators who are committed to research careers related to the science and amelioration of health inequities and disparities and unique life course experiences of stress and coping in African American older adults. MCUAAAR junior investigators come from all academic departments and professional schools including but not limited to Social Work, Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, Psychology, and Epidemiology. MCUAAAR provides junior faculty investigators the opportunity to join a robust community of scholars and faculty dedicated to nurturing the next generation of successful researchers addressing racial and ethnic influences on aging-related social and behavioral science.
MCUAAAR Faculty Mentoring Process
A significant portion of MCUAAAR faculty effort is dedicated to the mentoring process that aims to provide a firm foundation upon which the MCUAAAR scientists can build successful academic research careers. We fund pilot research studies conducted by junior faculty as a vehicle for our mentoring process. Faculty from a variety of disciplines from all three participating universities are involved.
Call for Proposals
Proposals are sought that support junior investigator-initiated research pilot projects that can lead to independent NIH-funded projects. Collaborative research projects that involve faculty from more than one department, school or institute are also encouraged.
Proposals for behavioral and social science research that focus on the mental and physical health of older African-Americans are encouraged from all academic disciplines that address issues relevant to this topic. Proposals should recognize the importance of a person’s life course development and experiences of stress and coping as it relates to the specific research question of interest. Some examples of these issues include: quality of life, health effects of prejudice and discrimination, caregiving, social support, family life, cognition, mental disorders, morbidity and mortality, healthcare utilization, work and retirement.
Eligibility
Junior faculty and research scientists/ investigators are eligible to apply for this award. The two-year mentoring program is for early-stage researchers who hold an academic rank or appointment equivalent to Assistant Professor.
Deadlines and More Information
The Call for Pilots is usually disseminated at the Gerontology Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in November. The deadline to submit a proposal is in January of each year and notification is in March. For exact deadlines, please consult our website https://mcuaaar.org/.
Contact Information
Questions regarding MCUAAAR or Pilot opportunities should be directed to Dr. Deborah Robinson, Faculty Administrative Coordinator, Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, drdrobin@nullumich.edu.