CHIME Leadership and Administrative Core

Project Summary for the RCMAR CHIME Leadership and Administrative Core Our goal is to improve the health of older minority populations by mentoring and developing minority faculty whose passion and careers are devoted to reducing health disparities for the most vulnerable older adults in our country. The Leadership and Administrative Core (LAC) will keep the center focused on addressing the theme of “Developing, Adapting and Evaluating Interventions to Improve the Health of Minority Elders”, which incorporates elements of two RFA areas of scientific focus: i) identify and develop solutions to eliminate health disparities and health inequities in the growing population of older adults, and ii) improve the health and well-being of older adults. The proposed UCLA CHIME LAC for this competitive renewal application has 9 specific aims: 1) to provide scientific and intellectual leadership and strategic direction to maintain our scientific focus; 2) to provide operational management and close financial oversight of UCLA CHIME and facilitate all critical interactions with the National Coordinating Center and NIA; 3) to oversee the annual selection of pilot studies in partnership with the REC that address CHIME’s theme and identify collaborations with other NIA- or NIH- funded Centers (including other RCMARs), or funded projects with the appropriate mentors for the content area of interest, and to submit the recommended pilot studies to NIA Project Officers for approval with the non-competing continuation; 4) to ensure that RCMAR scientists, researchers and mentors interact seamlessly with colleagues at UCLA and affiliated institutions and to maintain information flow; 5) to ensure the continued recruitment and retention of investigators from underrepresented backgrounds (RCMAR Scientists) and the viability of mentoring, training, and collaborative relationships among affiliated institutions; 6) to complete the CHIME semi-annual report, presenting CHIME’s scientific results as contributions to the state of the science, health policy, and health practices that can improve the health of minority elders; 7) to organize scheduled External Advisory Group meeting and Community Action Board meetings; 8) to assist with Institutional Review Board submissions for all pilot studies and to assist with community-based recruitment and retention of minority elders; 9) to evaluate the quality, performance, and outcomes of all REC curricular activities, pilot studies, and to track whether RCMAR Scientists are advancing on an appropriate trajectory toward independently funded research careers.