Office for Aging Research and Health Services
The Office for Aging Research and Health Services (OARHS) supports URMC’s contributions as a leader regionally, nationally, and internationally in the development and delivery of innovative approaches to care for our rapidly growing population of older adults.
OARHS brings together the leading innovators in the field of geriatrics and gerontology in the Rochester area and nationally.
It serves as a resource to investigators developing their programs of research in geriatrics, to program leaders and providers in developing innovative clinical solutions for the care of older adults, and to educators preparing a workforce to help address the needs of the older adults population in our community, region, and nationwide.

Applications Open for Geriatrics Grant to Support Junior Faculty
The Geriatric Faculty Scholars Challenge Grant supports junior faculty who will work with mentors to create and implement a geriatric education program for their division or department. Apply by Monday, February 8th

University of Rochester Aging Institute
Please check out the website for the new University of Rochester Aging Institute
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/university-of-rochester-aging-institute.aspx

The director of the Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery and his colleagues will work with researchers at Duke University Medical Center to investigate why some older COVID-19 patients develop delirium that can lead to brain damage and a dementia diagnosis.

Focus on Aging: Federal Partners’ Webinar Series
This webinar series will address important topics for public health and health care professionals, aging services organizations, the research community, and other stakeholders in aging. The series is a joint project of four of the federal agencies that support the health and wellness of older adults in the U.S.: the Administration for Community Living, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institute on Aging. Each webinar will include information specific to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, as well as their caregivers.
We are pleased to announce the “Focus on Aging” webinar series with ACL, CDC, HRSA and NIA.
Register today! https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/focus-aging-federal-partners-webinar-series
Upcoming Webinars in the Series:
January 2021: Workforce to Support the Needs of Older Adults
Spring 2021: Disclosure of Research and Clinical Findings Related to Cognition
Accomplishments
Roybal Center Receives NIH Grant
Led by Kim van Orden, PhD and Kathi Heffner, PhD, the Rochester Roybal Center for Social Ties & Aging Research was awarded a P30 grant from The National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Aging to support the development of behavioral interventions that promote social connectedness in caregivers of a family member with dementia. Learn more on the Rochester Roybal Center for Social Ties & Aging Research page.
News
"Oncologists are not sensitive to problems of aging unless they're taught them. They miss cognition and memory problems because they're not trained to do this," says Supriya Gupta Mohile, MD, the Philip and Marilyn Wehrheim Professor of Medicine, URMC.

Tailor-made for Older Adults, New Tools Improve Oncologist-Patient Relations
A Wilmot Cancer Institute-led study shows that when physicians fully appreciate the concerns of older adults with cancer, such as function and forgetfulness, it elevates patient care and satisfaction.

Changing ‘the tragedy narrative’: Why a growing camp is promoting a more joyful approach to Alzheimer’s
An approach — giving the illness a nickname, smoothly zigging after hitting a zag — with a growing camp of people determined to approach dementia care differently, coming at it with a sense of openness, playfulness and even wonder. (click here to view the article from the Washington Post)

Complementary Resources to Help Reduce Ageism
The way Americans currently think about aging creates obstacles to productive practices and policies. In response, and in collaboration with seven other leading associations serving the field of Aging, the American Society on Aging (ASA) is pleased to share a set of resources designed to help members and stakeholders join a movement to reframe the dialogue around aging, with the goal of reversing ageist assumptions about older adults. Our Gaining Momentum Toolkit is now available so you and your organization can become part of the movement to reframe how the public views older adults. This work is SO important and our aspirations can only be achieved through large-scale adoption of the principals and tools we provide to you today. (read more...)
"Mood and Psychosis Symptoms during the Menopause Transition"
(R01 and R21 mechanisms)
For questions or to obtain additional information, please see the contact information located in Section VII. Agency Contacts at the end of each announcement.
Click on the following links:
RFA-MH-21-105 AND RFA-MH-21-106
OR copy and paste the following links into your browser:
For the R01 announcement:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-21-105.html
For the R21 announcement:
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-21-106.html

The Rochester Roybal Center for Social Ties & Aging Research (The Roc STAR Center) and the UR Aging Institute (URAI) are co-sponsoring pilot awards focused on promoting the social well-being and healthy aging of those caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. There are currently two pilot award opportunities—the STAR Constellation Pilot Award and the ProtoSTAR Pilot Award.
Apply by Monday, January 25, 2021. Learn more!
Other Opportunities
Please check back for opportunity updates

The Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center is pleased to partner with ASAM to present the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Course including the waiver qualifying requirements.
Online registration link coming soon. Questions regarding the training can be directed to: Melissa_Jenks@URMC.Rochester.edu
