PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT—Research Education Component (REC) The overall goal of the Research Education Component (REC) is to identify, support, and nurture talented junior investigators who will become national leaders in aging research, especially within our theme of late-life disability in vulnerable populations. This renewal application builds on the success of the UCSF REC over the past 9 years in identifying and fostering the development of an incredible talent pool of junior investigators across a wide range of divisions, departments and schools (e.g., Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Geriatrics, HIV, Hospital Medicine, Hepatology, Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Neurology, Nursing, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Psychiatry, Physical Therapy, Social Science, Surgery, Urology) towards independence in aging research. The REC continues to focus on supporting junior faculty with exceptional potential for leadership in aging research during two crucial points in their career: (1) obtaining NIH K-award funding and (2) the K-to-R grant transition. The REC Scholars Program supports early career faculty who need protected time, mentorship and educational resources to accelerate their path towards NIA K awards. The REC also provides mentorship and educational resources to PESC Scholars with NIH K awards to accelerate their path towards their first R01. Scholars complete an Individualized Development Plan to tailor their research and educational experiences to their needs for becoming a leader in aging research in their specialty or discipline. Principles of aging and health equity are core competencies threaded throughout elements of data collection, analysis, manuscript and grant writing, communication and leadership. Also, REC leadership will work with leaders of the Resource Cores to provide each scholar access to additional services, which have been central to the success of our scholars during our first two cycles. The REC will continue to build on its strength of developing investigators from diverse disciplines and specialties, including investigators at the interface of basic and clinical research, to give them the tools, resources and leadership skills to succeed in aging research and provide a pathway towards independence. The REC also sponsors a Diversity Supplement Program to increase the number of faculty from underrepresented backgrounds conducting aging research at UCSF and sponsors a summer aging research program to increase the number of students underrepresented in health professions and has a close partnership with the UCSF Resource Center for Minority Aging Research. We are proud of the paradigm-changing work of our scholars who have published in the highest impact journals, received prestigious grants and become valued collaborators and partners in our mission to improve the health of vulnerable elders.