# University of Maryland Aging Diversity and Professional Training (UM ADAPT II)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2021 · $275,099

## Abstract

We propose to continue our University of Maryland Aging Diversity And Professional Training (UM ADAPT)
Program for years 06–10 to provide under-represented/disadvantaged undergraduates with 2 yrs of research,
ethics, and career development training. Our long-term goal is to increase diversity in individuals who choose
careers in aging-related biomedical/behavioral research. Our specific aims are to: provide quality mentoring,
increase knowledge of landmark aging research, enhance research skills and experience necessary to be
competitive graduate school applicants, enhance awareness of the process, practice, and ethics of scientific
research, and prepare Trainees for graduate school and a research career. The program includes 2 yrs of an
academic yr and a concentrated summer experience, with distinct activities each yr. Applicants are recruited
across the UM campus via numerous avenues. An Admissions Committee selects Trainees and matches them
with Mentors. Trainees are provided with housing and remunerated during the Summer Concentrated
Research Experience. Trainees primarily focus on research closely integrated with that of their Mentor, who is
selected from 32 School of Public Health faculty with research in disciplines highly relevant to aging. The mix
of Mentor expertise ranges from laboratory-based bench research to applied community-based and community
participatory research to health policy. In addition to research experience, Trainees and the Director meet
regularly to discuss research-related issues, set research goals, interact with various professionals for
exchanges about graduate school issues, and discuss classic research articles relevant to aging. During the
summers, weekly sessions on either Ethics- (1st Yr Trainees) or Research-Related (2nd Yr Trainees) Training
are included. A 2nd Yr/1st Yr Peer Mentoring Program is also utilized. Trainees present their research orally and
as posters at the end of each academic year and the end of the summer session. Scientific, social, and cultural
activities in the Washington, DC area are included. Extensive program evaluation assesses how well the
program achieves pre-determined Benchmarks. Internal and External Advisory Boards meet to review outcome
data and make recommendations to improve and maintain program quality. In our first 4 yrs our Trainees have
been highly diverse: of the 34 UM ADAPT Trainees, 20 have been women and 14 men, 20 have been African
Americans, 1 Hispanic/Latino, 5 Caucasians, and 8 Asians, with all of the Caucasian and Asian Americans
being disadvantaged individuals. Furthermore, they have come from a wide range of science-based majors.
Half of Trainees who have graduated are currently enrolled in graduate school, with all of them enrolled in
aging-related programs; those not yet in graduate school plan to submit their applications in the near future.
Thus, we have been successful in achieving or exceeding the majority of our Benchmarks and Objectives for
this progra...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10146257
- **Project number:** 5R25AG045063-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES M HAGBERG
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $275,099
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-08-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10146257

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10146257, University of Maryland Aging Diversity and Professional Training (UM ADAPT II) (5R25AG045063-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10146257. Licensed CC0.

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