2019 participants, click here for program agenda and presentations!

The USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging is proud to sponsor a unique scientific training opportunity to build the next generation of scientists dedicated to understanding and eradicating health disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).  Our nation has invested considerable public resources in cutting-edge research to address the profound effects of ADRD to individuals, families and society.  Yet, some groups have lagged behind with respect to reaping the benefits of such scientific advances, namely, older and middle-aged adults of lower socioeconomic status, and racial and ethnic group historically underrepresented in ADRD research.

Our scientific training program will provide ongoing career development opportunities to 10 emerging scholars in interdisciplinary, team-based approaches to address ADRD from a health disparities framework that incorporates environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, and biological factors and highlights powerful influences in achieving health equity for an increasingly diverse US aging population.  Guided by the National Institute on Aging Health Disparities Framework (Hill et al., 2015), this conference series will serve as a scientific training incubator for emerging scholars across the US to address the National Alzheimer Project Act (NAPA) 2017 goal of prevention and effective treatment of ADRD by 2025.

Using a variety of training and mentoring methods, the cohort of emerging scientists and their assigned mentors will engage in scientific career development activities to allow for intellectual exchange, research skills-building, mentoring, networking, research collaboration, and community stakeholder interactions focused on ADRD health disparities.  The signature training opportunity is a two-installment conference series to be held in Los Angeles, California in 2019 and 2020. Evaluation of the training program will occur throughout the project period to assess the training program’s impact, satisfaction, and suggested improvements.

About the Conference Series

The Interdisciplinary Aging Research to Address Health Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias conference series is intended to bring together emerging scientists, mentors, nationally-recognized presenters, project staff and evaluators, sponsors, and community stakeholders for rich discussions on the latest interdisciplinary, team-based research addressing ADRD health disparities and aging research.  This signature training opportunity will allow for intensive training opportunities on a variety of career development topics such as the latest scientific advances in ADRD health disparities, writing a successful NIH grant application, leveraging scientific collaborations, identifying innovations in recruitment and retention strategies, enhancing communication with senior program officers from the National Institute on Aging, advocacy groups, and families affected by ADRD.

The invitation only conference series will be held at the USC Tower at South Park Center in downtown Los Angeles, California. The agenda will include presentations from leading national experts in ADRD research.

  • October 24 and 25, 2019 – FINAL PROGRAM
  • October 5 and 6, 2020

Emerging scholars will be eligible to receive a travel award to attend the training program. Participants residing within a 30-miles radius of training program location will be reimbursed for ground transportation only. Details regarding process and restrictions will be provided to the selected participants. No salary support provided.

The USC Child Development Center may provide child care services through short-term daily accommodations for conference attendees with young children at a reasonable cost. Participants requiring child care are highly encouraged to make appropriate inquiries and arrangements as soon as possible.

Who Can Apply

Individuals from diverse backgrounds such as underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, women, sexual minorities, first-generation, and veterans are encouraged to apply.  Applicants must hold a doctoral degree within 10 years maximum of date conferred to be considered, and must be a U.S. citizen, or a non-citizen with permanent residence or lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they have strong interests and career goals in interdisciplinary science addressing ADRD health disparities.

Applicants will be expected to participate in all program activities including: development of an individualized development plan with specific deliverables, monthly check-in meetings, conference participation, and evaluation activities for the length of the project follow-up.

How to Apply

Applications for the Interdisciplinary Aging Research to Address Health Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias conference will be accepted July 1, 2019 through August 15, 2019 closing at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Applicants will be notified about their acceptance by September 1, 2019.

Please upload to the USC Roybal Scientific Training Program application the four items listed below as one pdf file document. Note that the word statement must be single spaced with no less than ½ inch margins using Times Roman font in a size no smaller than 11 points.  Only applications that follow these guidelines will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

  • Brief Demographic Information (entered directly on the application form)
  • 250-word statement describing the applicant’s commitment to the theme of the scientific training program and willingness to complete the required program deliverables
  • 1-page Specific Aims: a draft of an NIH specific aims page that targets significant ADRC health disparities which can be best addressed by an interdisciplinary lens.
  • NIH biographical sketch

Pre-submission inquiries should be directed to Iris Aguilar, iaguilar@usc.edu or (213) 740-1887. All training program applications are to be submitted online.

USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging

The USC Roybal Institute advances research, policy and practice to improve the lives of older adults and their families from diverse communities locally, regionally and globally.  The Institute was founded by the late U.S. Congressional Representative Edward R. Roybal who championed the first federal funding for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias research and medical care in the United States.

This scientific training program is supported by Grant R13AG063477 from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Conference support including funding for emerging scholars is provided by the Alzheimer’s Association. Additional support is provided by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

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