Resources

The JHAD-RCMAR offers a wide array of resources to its scientists and scholars.

These resources are available through its various programs and four interacting components: Administrative Core, Research Education Component, Community-Liaison and Recruitment, and the Analysis Core. The Administrative Core administers several programs that provide resources and support for junior investigators and faculty interested in pursuing research on Alzheimer’s disease, minority aging, and health disparities.

Programs and Support Mechanisms:

• Pilot Grants Program

  • Each year the JHAD-RCMAR implements a Pilot Grants Program with 3 new innovative projects aimed to provide a robust context for training and to contribute to the science of eliminating disparities in Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders (ADRD) particularly among minority older adults. Funds are available to encourage innovative research focused on basic, clinical, psychosocial, or health services aspects of minority aging, ADRD, and health disparities. The overarching goal of the JHAD-RCMAR is to prepare the next generation of underrepresented minority researchers in the conduct of Alzheimer-related research that is culturally relevant and has potential to bridge research from discovery to implementation in ADRD minority aging.  Those awarded pilot research funds through this mechanism will become JHAD-RCMAR Scientists and will receive additional career development support through the JHAD-RCMAR. A total of up to $30,000 (direct costs) is available for each pilot grant, and each pilot is expected to last one year. Applicants to the Pilot Grants Program are not limited to those with Johns Hopkins affiliations. An announcement about how to apply for this funding for 2021-2022 pilot grant awards will be posted on the JHAD-RCMAR website this Fall.

• Visiting Scholars Program

  • The JHAD-RCMAR sponsors a Visiting Scholar who is conducting state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s disease research related to health disparities or  minority aging.  Visiting Scholars are invited to spend two days at the Center giving a formal presentation, conducting an in-depth research seminar in a methodological area, and consulting with JHAD-RCMAR Faculty and Scientists. Each year we solicit nominations from all participants in the JHAD-RCMAR and from the Scientific Advisory Panel, select a Visiting Scholar from this list.

• Faculty Scholars

  • To attract additional faculty to the field of ADRD research in minority older adults, each year the JHAD-RCMAR identifies one or two Faculty Scholars for partial salary support. These Scholars will be post doctorate or junior faculty whose career research focus will be on Alzheimer’s-relevant minority aging research. These funds provide protected time to be matched by the Departments or Schools to allow young faculty to prepare career development awards. A subcommittee of the AD-RCMAR Executive Committee selects Faculty Scholars.

• Mentoring Support

  • The JHAD-RCMAR Research Education Component (REC) provides a carefully structured curriculum and a comprehensive and innovative mentoring mechanism leading to enduring careers of under-represented investigators in health disparities and minority aging as it relates to ADRD research. The focus is on the epidemiology of dementia and the development, testing, translation, and implementation of novel interventions for diverse individuals and their care providers to enhance health and functioning in minority populations. The curriculum is designed to prepare RCMAR Scientists to become independent investigators with an extramurally funded research portfolio focusing on eliminating disparities in ADRDminority elderly.

• Community Engagement Support

  • The JHAD-RCMAR Community Liaison and Recruitment Core communicates and collaborates with community organizations to increase the translation of strategies and interventions that are developed to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in minority older adults. The Core provides training and support for RCMAR Scientists, investigators, and lay consumers in community-engaged research, including the ethical dimensions. The Core also provides guidance on studying recruitment and retention of older participants in Alzheimer’s-relevant research, particularly minority older adults. In 2019-2020 the Community Liaison and Recruitment Core plans to convene conferences and workshops to provide a forum for RCMAR Scientists and members of community-based organizations to present ideas for future studies and to obtain feedback from senior investigators and community members.

• Analytic Support

  • The JHAD-RCMAR Analysis Core provides the quantitative support and strong statistical expertise that is needed to create the next generations of research on ADRD, minority aging, and health disparities.  It provides methodological expertise in support of the conceptualization, design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation of research relevant to the work of the RCMAR Scientists. It also provides access to modern data acquisition and management tools and emerging computing technologies by capitalizing on the existing IT infrastructure at the Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health. The Analysis Core mentors scientists and junior faculty supported by the Research Education Component, with the goals of maximizing their skills in study design, data analysis effective collaboration with biostatistical colleagues, and ability to translate research findings into clinical and community-based interventions and practice. Research protocols and measurement instruments will be made available through the JHAD-RCMAR website.