PROJECT SUMMARY OVERALL This proposal seeks to establish the Claude D Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at UConn (UConn OAIC) with the overarching goal of developing clinical strategies for enhancing function and independence in older adults that are more precise, personalized, and effective. Our focus on Precision Gerontology has emerged through the collective experiences and insights of our multidisciplinary team of accomplished investigators in the UConn Center on Aging – all united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of older adults through research, education, and clinical care. Our emphasis on Precision Gerontology has been guided by three principles: 1. A growing heterogeneity or variability over time among individuals involving all aspects of aging that therefore necessitates a multidisciplinary team-based approach to aging research; 2. Increased heterogeneity or variability with aging in older adults’ responses to treatment, highlighting the need for better targeting; and 3. Recognition of a need to incorporate these considerations into the design and testing of novel geroscience-guided therapies. These objectives will be achieved by establishing a UConn OAIC through the coordinated activities of a Leadership and Administration Core (LAC), Recruitment and Community Engagement Core (RC1), Data Resource Core (RC2), Biomarker and Preclinical Research Core (RC3), Pilot and Exploratory Studies Core (PESC), and Research Education Component (REC). We will seek to address these goals through the following aims: Aim 1: To develop and refine new approaches to the study and clinical translation of Precision Gerontology. Aim 2: To develop and evaluate new research methods, techniques, and collaborative approaches required to advance the goals of Precision Gerontology. Aim 3: To identify, develop, and learn from experiences of the next generation of researchers poised to become leaders in geriatrics research related to the UConn OAIC focus. Aim 4: To select and support innovative pilot studies that show promise in helping to guide the design, funding, and completion of more definitive future research studies related to the UConn OAIC focus.