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Opportunities in Age-Friendly Research

Contribute to Successful Future Research



The growing population of Colorado is becoming older and more diverse, providing important opportunities to engage populations underrepresented in clinical trials both as part of our research workforce and as trial participants. The Age-Friendly University initiative and NIH/NIA R24 award provide opportunities to realize this vision. Here's how you can be a part of this work:
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Researchers: Access Recruitment & Retention Resources

  1. Hire an expertly trained Older Adult Research Specialist (OARS) as part of your dynamic, intergenerational research team 
  2. Join us for one or more traveling Research Roadshows (presented locally and statewide)
  3. Utilize the free* Inclusion of Older Adults in Research Consult Service to brainstorm solutions and get feedback from our OARS to increase the recruitment and retention of older adults in your clinical trials – or to support your next grant application.

*This service is free through Sept. 30, 2024

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Older Adults: Join the Age-Friendly University Initiative

  1. Learn about Health Navigation and Older Adult Research Specialist training opportunities available through the CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging
  2. Explore clinical trials – the type of research that leads to advances in healthcare – and opportunities to participate 
  3. Stay in touch about opportunities to engage with CU research and researchers on the road. 

About the Age-Friendly University


Age Friendly University Global Network logo In 2021, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus became the fourth biomedical research institution in the world to achieve the designation as an Age-Friendly University. This effort is led by CU's Multidisciplinary Center on Aging. There are three priorities anchoring our work: Encore careers, research innovation, and intergenerational learning.

A 3-year, $1.5M NIH/NIA R24 (National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Agingresearch infrastructure award is advancing this work through: 

Thanks to Our Supporters


With this important grant, we can increase the recruitment and retention of older adults in clinical trials...

Improve the generalizability of research results to older adults, and...

Improve healthcare and health outcomes for older adult populations.


Funding support provided by: NIH/National Institute on Aging, 1R24AG071459 (PI: Nearing, Kathryn)

In-kind support provided by the following partners:

  • Vice Chancellor of Research, Dr. Thomas Flaig
  • Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, Dr. Regina Richards
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Regulatory Compliance, Dr. Alison Lakin
  • Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Dr. Ronald Sokol, PI
  • The Cancer Center, Dr. Christopher Lieu, Chair, Clinical Cancer Research
  • Division of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Dr. Cari Levy, Chair 
  • Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering, Dr. Cathy Bodine, Executive Director 
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