# Duke Roybal Center

> **NIH NIH P30** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $647,705

## Abstract

DUKE ROYBAL SUMMARY: Mobility is fundamental to active aging. Intimately linked to health status and
quality of life, the self-initiated day to day movements of older adults are shaped by their behavior and their
environment. The number of older Americans is rapidly increasing and there is a critical need to build and
accelerate research capacity to test and scale behavioral interventions, programs and practices that promote
healthy aging in general and mobility in particular. To address this need, we propose to establish an NIA
Edward R. Roybal Center at Duke University with the theme of "Accelerating Translational Behavioral
Intervention Research on Aging and Mobility." Our goal is to catalyze researchers across disciplines to develop
and test innovative behavioral interventions to optimize mobility for older adults. These interventions will aim to
foster independence and community participation, reduce unplanned health service use, and enhance quality
of life. Our center aims are to (1) develop the next generation of scientists committed to programs of
translational research using interventions grounded in behavioral or social science principles to improve
mobility and promote independent living of older adults; (2) use an experiential learning-based approach to
behavioral intervention development and implementation; and, (3) accelerate translation so interventions can
be successfully developed, validated, and scaled across NIH Stage Model levels. Our three overarching aims
will be met by the Center’s two cores, designed to enhance the research infrastructure for behavioral
intervention development, stimulate new research collaborations, and promote translational behavioral
research in aging and mobility. The Management and Administrative Core will coordinate the Center’s
activities; promote interactions and networking among pilot awardees, Center scientists who represent all
levels of the NIH Stage Model, and collaborating partners; integrate with our long-standing NIA-funded Pepper
and Demography and Economics of Aging Centers; and use experiential learning activities (e.g. intensive lab-
based intervention development and grant writing workshops) to engage investigators in learning the practical
research skills necessary for conducting intervention research from problem conception to implementation. Our
Pilot Core will use a novel accelerator model that provides awardees with support and practical experience in
working with a dedicated research team to conduct pilot research that is feasible, rigorous, and informs theory-
based intervention development. We will leverage a skilled implementation team to foster the development and
testing of behavioral interventions to benefit older adults with efficient project management for progression to
more advanced levels in the NIH Stage Model. This approach was proven effective in our CTSA and builds
from the Pepper Center’s success on innovation in aging and mobility. The Duke Roybal Center will bec...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017829
- **Project number:** 5P30AG064201-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Francis J. Keefe
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $647,705
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017829

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017829, Duke Roybal Center (5P30AG064201-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017829. Licensed CC0.

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