News Release

Aging Research Retreat A Success

November 12, 2007

Over 115 leading researchers in aging at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gathered to discuss the depth, breadth, interdisciplinary linkages, and future direction of the University's aging research during an on-campus retreat on October 29th, 2007. The retreat, organized by the Institute on Aging and the Center for Aging and Health, at the request of Tony Waldrop, Vice-Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, had three primary goals:

To increase campus-wide knowledge of existing research strengths and interests in aging;
To identify 4-6 areas of aging research in which UNC at Chapel Hill is particularly strong and which show promise to become the focus of one or more large, innovative, interdisciplinary proposals for funding, such as might occur either within or across research and academic units at UNC Chapel Hill;
To identify mechanisms to facilitate research in the identified areas of actual or potential strength, so as to stimulate interdisciplinary research and proposal development on the campus.

A panel of aging researchers, facilitated by Jan Busby-Whitehead, Director of the Center for Aging and Health, presented information on existing aging research currently taking place on campus. A second panel, chaired by Margaret Dardess, Associate Provost for Strategic Partnerships, discussed environmental constraints and opportunities associated with advancing aging research on campus. Breakout sessions were held to generate recommendations for future collaborative aging research areas and resources required to support additional research on campus.

Victor Marshall and Jan Busby-Whitehead, co-leaders of the Aging Research Retreat, will draft a position paper based on findings from the event. The Aging Retreat Planning committee, named below, will reconvene to discuss and finalize the position paper, which will recommend future directions for aging research on the campus. This position paper will be released in January 2008. The Aging Research Retreat is seen as the beginning of a process. The leadership group for the process will be expanded, drawing on people who attended the retreat and indicated a willingness to join the leadership team. For updates on the follow-up process to the retreat, go to the UNC Aging Research Retreat web page.

Aging Retreat Planning Committee

Victor Marshall, Director of the Institute on Aging (co-leader)
Jan Busby-Whitehead, Director of the Center for Aging and Health, UNC School of Medicine (co-leader)
Mary Altpeter, Associate Director for Program Development, Institute on Aging
Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Associate Director of Aging and Diversity, Institute on Aging
Jennifer Craft Morgan, Associate Director for Research, Institute on Aging
Mary H.Palmer, Umphlet Distinguished Professor in Aging, School of Nursing
Jacki Resnick, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Research and International Relations
Ned Sharpless, Department of Medicine and Associate Director Basic Science, Center for Aging and Health
Phil Sloane, Co-Director, Program on Aging, Disability and Long Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Sheryl Zimmerman, Co-Director, Program on Aging, Disability and Long Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research