# Bridging the Science-to-Service Gap in Aging Care: Prevention, Optimization and Living Well with Persistent or Serious Illnesses

> **NIH NIH T32** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $365,961

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Bridging the Science-to-Service Gap in Aging Care (BRIDGE THE GAP): Prevention,
Optimization and Living Well with Persistent or Serious Illnesses
The proposed T32 postdoctoral fellowship will address the pressing need for strengthening and diversifying the pipeline for
well-trained clinician investigators positioned to advance the field of aging research through the development, testing, and
implementation of clinical and behavioral preventive interventions (CBPIs) across the spectrum from health to illness across
all care settings (e.g., hospital, nursing homes) and in the community for individuals and their informal caregivers. Despite
advances in medical, social and behavioral sciences, a widely acknowledged science-to-service gap remains such that most
interventions are rarely implemented in the routine care of older adults in clinical or community settings. This gap is
particularly apparent in the care of those with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD), where there is a dearth
of evidence-based approaches to support persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers across the disease
trajectory. A key reason for this “implementation cliff” is the lack of rigorous and comprehensive training in all stages of
the NIH model for new clinical investigators that enter the field of aging. Further, to date, very little research has been
focused on prevention of age-related negative consequences. We are well positioned to address this important gap because
we have access to both an exceptionally talented pool of interdisciplinary trainees (PhD and MD) and an unparalleled
network of interdisciplinary, NIH funded faculty mentors and investigators with complementary expertise in CBPIs in
primary prevention (e.g. treating ADRD risk factors to prevent onset), secondary prevention (e.g., prevention of emotional
distress in ADRD), and tertiary prevention (e.g., increasing quality of life in ADRD). Two new trainees who have recently
completed their clinical training will enter the program each year and will receive a maximum of three years of support
(maximum 6 trainees at one time). Trainees will receive interdisciplinary mentorship across 1) the Department of Internal
Medicine Mongan Institute (including the Center for Aging and Serious Illness) 2) the Department of Psychiatry (including
the Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research) and 3) the Department of Neurology (including the
Massachusetts ADRD Research Center). Trainees will receive specialized didactic training that covers methods across the
NIH stage model, trial design and community engaged research across primary, secondary and tertiary prevention,
biostatistics, clinical trial management, scientific writing, health disparities and social determinants of health, leadership
skills and career planning, in preparation for career development awards or other independent applications to be submitted
by the end of the fellowship period. Trainees will ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10848250
- **Project number:** 5T32AG081327-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Christine S Ritchie
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $365,961
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10848250

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10848250, Bridging the Science-to-Service Gap in Aging Care: Prevention, Optimization and Living Well with Persistent or Serious Illnesses (5T32AG081327-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10848250. Licensed CC0.

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