The Pilot Project Core of the UAB Roybal Center is designed to foster and facilitate the development and execution of pilot projects which will contribute to the overall theme of the Center """"""""Translational Research on Aging and Mobility."""""""" Specifically, these projects are will consit of preliminary studies, with the long-range goal of applying the theories, paradigms, and methodology of the behavioral and social sciences to solve the mobility problems of older adults. Pilot projects are expected to lead to the develoment of more highly developed research projects (e.g., NIH ROIs, R03s, K-awards etc., VA Merit awards;private sector support) with the primary aim of obtaining information that can be translated into real solutions for the mobility challenges of the elderiy. Pilot projects can assume a variety of formats, such as pilot studies on a preliminary hypothesis, descriptive studies to explore associations between functional impairments and adverse mobility outcomes, and feasibility studies to establish the credibility of a research approach or a methodology. Even though pilot projects represent the eariiest steps in developing a research idea, they should be consistent with the Roybal Center's emphasis on research translation from basic research to practical positive outcome for older adults'health and well-being. The Pilot Project Core will be directed by the Co-Director of the Center, Dr. Cynthia Owsley. Two to five pilot projects will be selected for funding each year. A call for applications will be issued through campus mail, the campus newspaper, and electronic mail, and other dissemination outlets. Applications will be reviewed by relevant experts for scientific merit and programmatic relevance to the Center. The Pilot Project Core will be systematically evaluate by examining the extent to which each project contributes to the scientific literature, generates data useful in the design and funding of future research studies, and leads to the eventual transfer of research findings to solving a mobility problem of the elderly.
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