University of Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRD RCMAR)

Research Education Component Revised Project Summary The University of Southern California AD/ADRD Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (USC AD/ADRD RCMAR) brings together an interdisciplinary team to provide infrastructure, expertise and resources to support research on AD/ADRD and related outcomes. The goals of the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR are to (1) increase the number and scholarly achievements of researchers through funding and mentorship, and analytic and career development support, and (2) develop new, innovative lines of research on the social, behavioral, economic, and institutional causes and consequences of disparities in cognitive decline and AD/ADRD, and health and economic consequences of AD/ADRD. The Research Education Component Core (REC) within the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR is dedicated to developing the infrastructure needed to recruit, train, and mentor early stage investigators. The REC supports the overall goals of the USC AD/ADRD RCMAR by providing the resources and the infrastructure needed to: solicit and select pilot study proposals to ensure scientific rigor; to provide RCMAR scientists multidisciplinary mentoring, training in causal methods and in utilizing rich data source for AD/ADRD research; to support RCMAR scientists’ professional development and their transition to productive independent research careers. The REC will build on its successes over the past 10 years and together with our partner institutions and partner Centers and affiliates, and infrastructure built by the Leadership and Administration core, will identify and support early stage investigators who will address new, innovative lines of research on the social, behavioral, economic, and institutional causes and consequences of disparities in cognitive decline and AD/ADRD, and health and economic consequences of AD/ADRD. REC supports scientists’ research by providing multidisciplinary mentoring and together with the Analysis core, training in methods and the use of large, complex and newly available data sources for dementia disparities research. The REC supports professional development to succeed in highly competitive academic environments and meet early career research expectations. Finally, the REC tracks the successes of pilot scientists during the award and post-award periods and offers continued support over time. An External Advisory Committee (EAC) and Core leadership support the REC in the process of pilot scientist selection and evaluate and provide feedback on REC activities including mentoring, training, and scientist tracking. The EAC includes leadership from our partner institutions, Spelman College, Howard University, and California State University Fullerton, the USC Schaeffer Center, the USC Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions of Aging, the USC Alzheimer Disease Research Center, and the USC Center of Economic and Social Research.