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

ABSTRACT The San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease-related Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (San Diego AD-RCMAR) [formerly San Diego Resource Center (SDRC) for advancing Alzheimer’s Research in Minority Seniors (ARMS)] is a collaboration between the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University (SDSU) that will leverage the strength of both institutions to identify, train, and support scientists from diverse backgrounds committed to behavioral and social science research on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The SD AD-RCMAR will address ADRD inequities through novel research targeting multilevel factors to inform interventions focused on Hispanic/Latino, limited English proficient (LEP) and refugee communities. We will use the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework to guide our investigation of emerging and established risk factors at environmental, sociocultural, behavioral and biological levels across the life course and focused on priority populations in the San Diego region. We will train, mentor and support our Scientists to use novel research designs, measurements and analyses and to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) concepts into their work. Informed by and in partnership with the Hispanic/Latino (hereafter referred to as Latino), LEP and refugee communities and organizations representing them, we will work to meet their needs and increase their representation in research to decrease inequities in healthy cognitive aging. The SD AD-RCMAR will be led by three Principal Investigators (MPIs): Drs. Alison Moore (UCSD-Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care), Paul Gilbert (SDSU-Psychology) and John Elder (SDSU/UCSD-Public Health). The center includes four cores: Leadership and Administrative (LAC), Research Education (REC), Analysis (AnC) and a new Community Liaison and Recruitment Core (CLRC) and will be composed of diverse leaders and investigators. The LAC will provide administrative and intellectual leadership to the San Diego AD-RCMAR to plan, manage and coordinate its activities, and maintain its scientific focus. The REC will nurture AD-RCMAR Scientists via DEIA-grounded mentorship, education, career development activities and resources to attain independent research careers and leadership skills. The AnC will provide training in advanced quantitative and qualitative analytic techniques for the collection, management, and analysis of data, facilitate access to existing sources of data for ADRD research, and support scientists to disseminate their research findings. The CLRC will train Scientists on community engagement research methods, build and strengthen community collaborations, and promote recruitment and retention of minoritized populations. The SD AD-RCMAR will enhance and increase the diversity of our nation’s scientific workforce with outstanding AD-RCMAR Scientists committed to careers in ADRD research focused on understanding and addressing multilevel risk factors to reduce ADRD disparities.