# Optimal Longevity: Mechanisms, Reducing health disparities, and increasing healthspan

> **NIH NIH R13** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2020 · $50,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This R13 conference grant will help further the field of behavioral medicine, lead to novel integration with
cutting edge research on aging, and support promising early stage investigators in these areas. The
transdisciplinary field of behavioral medicine builds on an understanding of behavioral, biomedical, and
psychosocial mechanisms to reduce costly chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and
psychiatric disease. However, it has not targeted biological aging as an outcome. Research on biology of
aging and geroscience examines common mechanisms of disease, but does not emphasize behavioral and
social factors. The integration of these fields holds tremendous promise for understanding disease pathways
and improving prevention by slowing biological aging processes. It is imperative to better integrate a
geroscience focus into behavioral medicine research. The Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research (AMBR)
annual meeting provides a highly interactive forum for thought leaders to exchange transdisciplinary ideas
often with a high impact on research programs and collaborations. In June 2020, the focus will be on “Optimal
Longevity: Mechanisms, health disparities, and increasing healthspan.” Confirmed keynote speakers
include Elizabeth Blackburn (cell aging mechanisms), Eileen Crimmins (socio- and biodemography of aging),
Terrie Moffitt (early life, mental health, aging trajectories), Daniel Belsky (social disadvantage and biological
indices of aging), and Bonnie Kaplan (nutrition, aging, and mental health). Drawing on the deep expertise of
ABMR members, symposium and discussion topics focus on mechanisms of disease and aging such as stress
and discrimination, vagal regulation, personality, mindfulness, and self-regulation in understanding trajectories
of aging. We will address questions such as how to best measure healthspan, biological aging trajectories,
biobehavioral risk factors, and interventions to slow aging and target cancer and other diseases of aging. The
program will be overseen by ABMR President Elissa Epel, council members, and the planning committee. Dr.
Epel has experience in chairing conferences and a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of
researchers. Our aims are: To introduce behavioral medicine researchers to critical topics in healthy
longevity; 2) To support Early Stage Investigators, particularly URM, interested in integrating
behavioral medicine and aging research to attend the conference and receive a mentored experience;
3) To implement a mentored experience, strategies for sustaining and strengthening investigator
independence and leadership. This includes a leadership workshop, NIH led roundtable, process group, and
mentor assignments. We had 21% URM faculty in 2019 and we aim to grow representation in 2020. This R13
will increase the success of future generations of diverse behavioral medicine researchers, as well as help
integrate cutting edge issues in healthy lo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9993903
- **Project number:** 1R13AG067667-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Elissa S. Epel
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $50,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9993903

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9993903, Optimal Longevity: Mechanisms, Reducing health disparities, and increasing healthspan (1R13AG067667-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9993903. Licensed CC0.

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