San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (SD AD-RCMAR)

San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (SD AD-RCMAR)

Tags

University of California, San Diego
San Diego State University

The SD AD-RCMAR is designed to enhance the diversity of the aging research workforce by mentoring scientists from underrepresented groups for careers in ADRD relevant research. In particular, the SD AD-RCMAR is working to fill critical gaps in ADRD research focused on older Latinos. This Center is jointly lead by the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University.

Call for Pilot

 

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS – DEADLINE EXTENDED

PILOT PROJECTS – ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESEARCH 2022-23

          Applications are being accepted for one-year Pilot Project Awards of up to $35,000        

 UC San Diego and San Diego State University jointly lead the San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (AD‐RCMAR), which is funded by the National Institute on Aging. The goals of the AD- RCMAR are to increase the diversity of the Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) scientific workforce, and fill critical scientific gaps in Latino ADRD research. For more information about the San Diego AD-RCMAR, please visit our website.

Pilot Funding: We are currently accepting applications for pilot grant awards for the 2022-2023 academic year (earliest funding start date is July 1, 2022). Selected AD-RCMAR Scientists will receive $25,000 – $35,000 (depending on scope of project) for one year to execute their proposed Specific Aims. We plan to fund 3 – 4 pilot project awards.

Eligibility: All applicants must be a current U.S. citizen or hold a U.S. Permanent Resident Visa and be from an underrepresented background as defined by the National Institutes of Health.

Applicants should be postdoctoral fellows or junior faculty members (e.g., Assistant Professor). In addition, applications are encouraged from mid-career faculty (e.g., Associate Professor) who are transitioning into ADRD research. We will accept applications from other institutions besides UC San Diego or San Diego State University and from other geographic regions.

Requirements: Selected AD-RCMAR Scientists are expected to attend monthly training seminars, present their AD- RCMAR research at workshops, and engage in other career and research development activities. In addition, AD- RCMAR Scientists will regularly report their career development and research progress during their year of AD-RCMAR support and thereafter as their careers advance.

Pilot Project Focus: Projects should address behavioral and social research areas related to ADRD, especially those related to Latino cognitive aging, mild cognitive impairment and ADRD.

See ADRD Behavioral and Social Research Areas , and ADRD Summit Priority Areas.

Projects that focus on other underrepresented populations are also welcome. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact San Diego AD-RCMAR faculty (please see list below, along with links to research profiles) to discuss eligibility and how the aims of the proposed project fit with the goals and research priorities of the center.

Resources Available to Selected Participants: A focus of the San Diego AD-RCMAR is to foster independent career scientists focused on ADRD research. The San Diego AD-RCMAR will provide AD-RCMAR Scientists with career development and research mentorship; and education in ADRD, health disparities and other topics. They will also be encouraged and supported to work with data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and other ADRD-related ancillary studies (e.g., SOL-INCA-MRI). Pilot studies that use datasets with cognitive aging and ADRD among under-represented minorities (URM) data are welcomed (e.g., Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Health & Aging Brain Study. Analytic, methodological, manuscript and grant writing training and support are available. In addition, support will be provided for attending relevant scientific meetings.

Initial Application – Required Documents: Interested candidates must submit:

  1. A one-page Cover Letter, indicating qualifications for this award based on the eligibility criteria, along with a summary of how this award will further one’s career goals related to ADRD Please also include within this letter whether or not you are also submitting an application to another RCMAR/AD-RCMAR this year and how you heard about this funding opportunity.
  2. NIH-format Biosketch
  3. Up to two-page overview summarizing the proposed pilot project (MS Word document, single-spaced in Arial font with 11-point typeface, 0.5 inch margins), including:
    1. Specific Aims
    2. Significance
    3. Approach
    4. Next steps – what this project will lead to (e.g., planned papers, grants)
  4. A list of suggested mentors including at least one from the San Diego AD-RCMAR faculty. Include name(s), affiliations and mentorship

Following reviews of applications, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, with input from Center leadership, of their planned research.

Review Criteria: Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

  • Fulfillment of the eligibility requirements
  • Fit with the San Diego AD-RCMAR goals and ADRD research priorities
  • Commitment to ADRD research
  • Potential to become an independent investigator

Application Timeline:

  1. Extended Deadline: Monday, January 24, 2022 – All completed Letters of Intent are due by 5pm PST and should be submitted to Jennifer Reichstadt, MSG, Program Administrator via email, jreichst@nullucsd.edu.
  2. Late-January / Early-February – Applicants will be notified if they have been selected to submit a full
  3. Monday, February 28, 2022 – Full proposals will be
  4. Monday, March 28, 2022 –Applicants selected for funding will be notified, including any revisions
  5. Friday, April 15, 2022 – Finalized proposals and supporting documents will be due for submission to NIH/NIA.
  6. July 2022 – Funding will become available, following Notice of Award and IRB

Contacts: For general administrative questions, please contact Jennifer Reichstadt (jreichst@nullucsd.edu), AD-RCMAR Program Administrator. Meanwhile, please feel free to contact any of the following San Diego AD-RCMAR faculty listed below to discuss a project idea. Links to individual research profiles are also included.

MPIs:

  • John Elder, PhD, MPH, San Diego AD-RCMAR MPI, Research Education Component Lead Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health, SDSU

Email: jelder@nullsdsu.edu

Research Profile: https://publichealth.sdsu.edu/people/john-elder/

  • Paul Gilbert, PhD, San Diego AD-RCMAR MPI

Senate Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, SDSU Email: pgilbert@nullsdsu.edu

Research Profile: https://psychology.sdsu.edu/people/paul-gilbert/

  • Hector González, PhD, San Diego AD-RCMAR MPI

Professor, Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego and Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center SOL-INCA PI and ADRD Summit Co-Chair

Email: hectorgonzalez@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/hector.m.gonzalez

  • Alison Moore, MD, MPH, San Diego AD-RCMAR MPI, Administrative Core Lead

Professor and Chief, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, UC San Diego

Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Co-I Email: alm123@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/alison.moore

Other Lead Faculty:

  • Tarik Benmarhnia, PhD, San Diego AD-RCMAR Analysis Core Lead

Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, UC San Diego

Email: tbenmarhnia@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/tarik.benmarhnia

·        James B. Brewer, MD, PhD

Chair, Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center PI Email: jbrewer@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profiles: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/jamesbrian.brewer

·        Steven Edland, PhD

Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego

Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Co-I (Data and Biostatistics Core Leader) Email: sedland@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profiles: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/steven.edland

  • Hala Madanat, PhD, San Diego AD-RCMAR Evaluations Lead Interim Vice President for Research, SDSU

Email: hmadanat@nullsdsu.edu

Research Profile: https://publichealth.sdsu.edu/people/hala-madanat-2/

·        Linda McEvoy, PhD

Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science,

Department of Radiology, and Shiley Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Co-I, UC San Diego Email: lkmcevoy@nullhealth.ucsd.edu

Research Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/linda.mcevoy

·        Camille Nebeker, EdD, MS

Associate Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science Co-Founder and Director, Research Center for Optimal Digital Ethics – Health, UC San Diego Email: nebeker@nullucsd.edu

Research Profile: https://profiles.ucsd.edu/camille.nebeker

·        Humberto Parada, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor and Division Head, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SDSU Email: hparada@nullsdsu.edu

Research Profile: https://publichealth.sdsu.edu/people/humberto-parada-jr/

Contact Info