Project Summary/Abstract National Institute of Aging Grant P30-AG-21332 (Project End 30 June 2023) Principal Investigator: Stephen Kritchevsky, PhD Since 1992, the Wake Forest Older Americans Independence Center (WF OAIC) has cultivated investigators and expertise to develop and test new interventions to improve physical function and prevent age-related disability. We have refined translational approaches that integrate relevant disability and functional measures, behavioral and cognitive science, biostatistics, genomics, muscle and adipose tissue biology, animal models including non-human primates, biomarkers, state-of-the-art imaging modalities, and basic, clinical and populationbased study designs. This grant cycle builds on the WF OAIC’s well-developed infrastructure and strong track record of fostering collaborative, high-impact, translational science and earlycareer investigator success through a coordinated, multi-disciplinary team approach focused on its mission: To promote the health and independence of older adults. The WF OAIC activities are guided by its scientific theme: Integrating pathways affecting physical function for new approaches to disability treatment and prevention. This theme emphasizes common, age- related, rather than disease-specific disability pathways so that discoveries and strategies can be applied to older adults with and without a variety of chronic diseases and in differing contexts of care. It also provides a framework to coordinate research activities across all Center facets. The WF OAIC will provide leadership, resources and infrastructure to achieve four programmatic aims: 1. Discover new pathways contributing to age-related declines in physical function and disability risk; 2. Develop, evaluate and refine strategies for disability prevention and treatment; 3. Translate proven strategies beyond traditional research environments; and 4. Train the next generation of research leaders focused on disability treatment and prevention.