The Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center was established in January 2003 with funding from the National Institute on Aging. Sometimes called “Pepper Centers” in honor of a key sponsor, the late Senator Claude Pepper, OAICs are designed to support the research and discovery needed to develop innovative ways to promote the independence of our aging population. The Johns Hopkins OAIC is designed to foster research to understand the causes of frailty associated with aging and to develop effective ways to prevent or treat frailty.

The OAIC is led by, and based in, the Center on Aging and Health, with participation by scientists throughout the Schools of Medicine and Public Health. It offers the core infrastructure necessary to initiate discovery of the causes of frailty, including a Genetics Core, directed by Dr. A. Chakravarti, and a Biostatistics Core, directed by Dr. K. Bandeen-Roche. The Center offers support for pilot studies on frailty issues through use of these cores and direct financial support of the costs of the pilot. Inquiries regarding pilot studies can be directed to Dr. P. Rabins, Core Director. In addition, the OAIC offers opportunities for protected time and training for junior faculty committed to developing research in the area of prevention or treatment of frailty and related issues. Inquiries regarding support for junior faculty should be directed to Dr. G. Gerstenblith, Core Director. The Principal Investigator and overall Director for the OAIC is Dr. Linda Fried.