# RC2 - The Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC)

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2024 · $174,687

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT — Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC)
The Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC) supports OAIC investigators conducting primary data collection
studies that include vulnerable older adults. Older adults are vastly underrepresented in research. This
underrepresentation is even more pronounced for older adults with medical vulnerability (e.g., cognitive
impairment and complex multi-morbidity) and/or social vulnerability (e.g., isolation, poverty, limited health
literacy, homelessness). These medical and social vulnerabilities often coexist and interact to produce
profound effects on disease incidence, progression, outcomes, and response to health interventions. Yet, older
adults with these vulnerabilities are often difficult to recruit and retain, adversely affecting their representation
in research and impairing our knowledge of how best to optimize their care. The UCSF Pepper Center has an
international reputation for expertise in the recruitment, retention, and protection of medically and socially
vulnerable older adults in research including in community-engaged research, prospective studies, and
randomized trials. Since the VARC's inception last cycle, the number of OAIC investigators engaged in primary
data collection of medically and socially vulnerable older adults has continued to grow exponentially, as have
the services we provide to investigators. We propose the following aims: (1) Provide expert consultation for
the design of primary data collection studies that focus on older adults with medical and/or social
vulnerabilities, including human subject considerations; (2) Support OAIC-affiliated investigators on methods
for recruiting, consenting, enrolling, and retaining vulnerable older adults, including convening and maintaining
community advisory boards; (3) Support OAIC investigators on methods to develop and test interventions that
are responsive to the needs and priorities of vulnerable older adults; (4) Advise on the incorporation of
predictor and outcome measures of medical and social vulnerability (e.g., cognitive impairment, frailty, health
literacy, poverty, social isolation) in collaboration with the Data and Analysis Core; and (5) Support
Development Projects that advance the development of new methodologies in our Core's theme area. We
propose a novel Development Project to develop innovative methods for merging qualitative and mixed
methods data across studies involving older adults with disability and their care partners and clinicians. The
VARC will also support stellar external investigators whose research involves recruiting and retaining
vulnerable older adults. Proposed external projects include NIA-funded studies exploring barriers to long-term
social support services for older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and the effects of a
novel decision support tool to help older adults discuss diabetes medication deprescribing with clinicians.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10916485
- **Project number:** 5P30AG044281-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** REBECCA L SUDORE
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $174,687
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-07-15 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10916485

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10916485, RC2 - The Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC) (5P30AG044281-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10916485. Licensed CC0.

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