PROJECT SUMMARY – Overall Duke Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (Duke OAIC) The Duke OAIC will provide scientific leadership, innovation, interdisciplinary research strategies, translational approaches, development of early-stage investigators and a collaborative spirit in its theme: to understand and optimize physiologic reserve and physical resilience in older adults. The specific aims are to advance knowledge of measures, mechanisms and analysis of reserve and resilience in older adults through an integrated research program; to develop and evaluate interventions that optimize reserve and resilience in older adults; to identify and develop the next generation of researchers who will become leaders in aging and geriatrics research related to the theme; and to support pilot studies that will progress to successful, more definitive research studies related to the Duke OAIC focus. The experienced Leadership and Administrative Core will direct OAIC activities. The Center supports a Research Education Component (REC), Pilot/Exploratory Studies Core (PESC) and three resource Cores: Molecular Measures, Health and Mobility Measures, and Analysis. The resource cores provide collaborative support to externally funded projects, developmental projects, REC Scholars and PESC pilot studies. In addition, the Molecular Measures Core will develop new molecular profiling and testing capabilities to evaluate resiliencies in the setting of stressors, including SARS-CoV2, and conduct systems analyses to identify biological pathways indicative of resilient phenotypes. The Health and Mobility Measures Core will identify gaps in reserve and resiliency measures at the person level, and develop and adapt innovative measurements for related outcomes; and build resiliency related data science capacity in collaboration with Duke’s Center for Actionable Health Data Science (Forge). The Analysis Core will develop and disseminate new biostatistical analytic methodologies to advance the study of reserve and resilience. The REC will deliver an aging research curriculum around promoting reserve and resilience, while providing multiple opportunities for feedback, networking, and peer support. The PESC will facilitate the highest caliber pilot studies related to our theme. The Duke OAIC will use innovative approaches to facilitate career development and research capabilities, including the Data Integration Working Group, “Pepper Shakers” Networking Events, Intervention Development for Elderly Adults (IDEA) workshops, National Research Mentoring Network Training Workshop, training workshops on physical function measurement and accelerometer analysis methods, Health Care Disparities Research Curriculum, Duke Pepper Center Study Dashboard and inclusion of community representatives in the pilot study selection process.