# University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2024 · $1,200,881

## Abstract

7. Project Summary: Overall
The theme of the UM-OAIC is enablement defined as the restoration of function in those with impairments and
the prevention or delay of further progression in those who are already disabled. The overarching mission of
the UM-OAIC is to develop, implement, and evaluate rehabilitative strategies that are designed to improve and
restore mobility and functional independence in older persons with disabling conditions. This will be
accomplished by 1) advancing our understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise and activity-based and
multi-modal rehabilitation interventions directed at specific impairments affect multiple body systems; 2)
developing and testing interventions to restore function and minimize disability following acute disabling events
and to prevent declines related to serious chronic diseases; and 3) training the next generation of investigators
who will further the understanding of the aging process and develop interventions that help promote health and
independence in older adults with disabling medical conditions.
The functional impairments and disabilities that occur in older people emanate from acute events, such as
stroke, heart attack, and hip fracture, or reflect the progression of chronic diseases. This pathway of how
disease leads to disability, i.e., disablement, has been discussed extensively. The UM-OAIC’s mission builds
knowledge of disablement and focuses on the restoration of function in those with impairments and to prevent
or delay further progression in those already disabled, i.e. enablement.
The aims of the UM-OAIC are to: 1) Conduct research that examines the mechanisms underlying the
functional impairments associated with acute disabling events (e.g., stroke, hip fracture) and prevalent chronic
diseases (e.g., heart failure, cancer) in older people. 2) Design novel, exercise and activity-based and
rehabilitation interventions that produce clinically relevant outcomes and study the mechanisms underlying
them. 3) Translate interventions developed in UM-OAIC clinical laboratories and elsewhere for implementation
and rigorous evaluation in home and community settings. 4) Support pilot and exploratory studies, UM-OAIC
Scholar research, development projects, and externally funded projects that are consistent with the UM-OAIC
theme. 5) Support the development of junior faculty and Scholars from multiple disciplines as they pursue
careers as independent, academic scientists and leaders with expertise in the study of older persons with
disabling diseases through mentor-based, didactic and experiential training in bench-to-bedside-to-community
translational research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894010
- **Project number:** 5P30AG028747-19
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Leslie I. Katzel
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,200,881
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2006-09-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894010

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894010, University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) (5P30AG028747-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894010. Licensed CC0.

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